One policeman injured in Maoist attack in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur

In a separate incident, Maoists set on fire 10 vehicles near Bhattiguda village in Bijapur district.

One policeman was seriously injured as Maoists opened fire on a police team in the forest area of Tippapuram village in Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh this afternoon, police said.

The policeman, identified as constable Arvind Salaam, sustained serious injuries in the attack. (AP File Photo)

Police suspect that the retaliatory attack launched by them, left some Maoists either dead of injured.

The village where the incident took place is located near Telangana border.

A composite squad of security personnel, including the Special Task Force (STF), District Reserve Guard (DRG), district police, was out on patrol when the ultras opened fire, police said.

The policeman, identified as constable Arvind Salaam, sustained serious injuries in the attack.

“After the Maoist firing, police launched a retaliatory attack. The exchange of fire lasted for around one-and-a-half hour following which the Maoists fled from the spot,” police said.

There is a possibility that some Maoists died in the police firing, they said.

Meanwhile, in a separate incident, Maoists set on fire 10 vehicles near Bhattiguda village under Modakpal police station limits in Bijapur district, police said.

“This morning, Maoists came to the spot and asked the labourers involved in road construction to stop the work and then torched the vehicles,” an official said.

A police team has been sent to the spot.