Raipur, Sept. 21: Suspected Maoist guerrillas on Tuesday evening ambushed a search party near Usur in Chhattisgarh’s restive Bijapur district, killing one special police officer (SPO), tribal cop, and injuring six others, police said.
Police sources said a search team comprising 3 sub-inspectors, 9 head constables, two SPOs and 14 constables, were suddenly attacked by a group of armed rebels, who were hiding behind a roadside bush. “The security personnel were taken awake by the ambush. They, however, regrouped in no moment and retaliated leading to exchange of fire which lasted about 40 minutes. One SPO was killed on the spot and six other policemen including one sub-inspector and one head constable were injured in the encounter”, a senior district police officer told this newspaper.