Suspected Maoists on Saturday killed two people, including a special police officer (SPO) and set afire eight iron ore-laden trucks in two separate incidents in Chhattisgarh’s restive Bastar division, the police said.
Sources said around a dozen armed rebels opened fire at two SPOs, tribal cops of Chhattisgarh, when they were shopping at the local weekly market in Badagaon village in Kanker district.
While the SPO Dhanush died on the spot after being hit by bullets, the other cop, Raisingh, was seriously injured. A local villager, Durgu Dakua, was also felled by Maoist bullets.
The injured was rushed to the nearby government hospital. His condition was stated to be critical.
The assailants managed to escape before the public could react.
In another incident, around 50 ultras blocked state highway at Nareli Ghat in Dantewada district by felling trees on Saturday morning. Later, they set fire to eight trucks, which were carrying iron ore to Essar Steel plant, 100 km away.
Meanwhile, security has been beefed up in the state to ensure a incident free Independence Day celebration on Sunday. The left-wing extremists have given a call to the people in the Maoist-infested areas in the state to observe the day as black day.