Four Central Reserve Police Force personnel, including a deputy commandant died and three others were injured when Naxalites triggered a landmine blast near Marikoder village under Mardoom police station in Dantewada district on Monday.
The spot is 27 km from the Chitrakoot waterfalls where President Pratibha Patil was at the time of the blast.
“The CRPF jawans of 31 Battalion were in two jeeps and eight motorcycles on their way to Barsoor camp when the blast occurred,” said a police officer. After the blast, Naxals opened fire on the securitymen.
Two of the seven policemen in the jeep, deputy commandant Diwakar Mahapatra and driver constable Poda Singh were killed on the spot. Head constable AD Burman and Constable NK Jha died on the way to hospital.
The Rashtrapati Bhavan later denied reports that the President’s convoy was targeted during her visit. After the incident, Union Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta spoke to DGP Chhattisgarh and CRPF authorities. He also denied reports of attack on the Presidents’ convoy.