Congress leader’s relative killed in Maoist attack
By IANSWednesday, July 7, 2010
RAIPUR - Dozens of armed Maoists attacked a Congress leader’s house and a police station in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada district early Thursday, killing a close relative of the politician, police said. At least four Maoists were also shot dead.
Guerrillas opened fire at local Congress politician Avdhesh Singh Gautam’s house and a police station, some 450 km from Raipur, simultaneously at around 1 a.m.
The leader’s brother-in-law was shot dead while his supporter was critically injured.
“Maoists paid the price as at least three guerrillas were killed when security guards at the Nakulnar-based house of the politician retaliated while another rebel was shot dead by forces at the police station in retaliatory firing,” Vishwa Ranjan, director general of police (DGP), Chhhattisgarh, told IANS over phone.
Maoists have called a two-day strike beginning Wednesday to protest the killing of their spokesperson Chelukuri Rajkumar alias Azad in Andhra Pradesh.
Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada district has become the hot bed of Maoists with several attacks unleashed by the rebels in the recent past, especially on security forces.
