Raipur:
Suspected naxals axed to death a 45-year-old police constable and injured another police official in Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh today, police said.
"Naxals attacked police constable Gautam Pande with an axe and also injured police sub-inspector Satyawadi Sahu (35). They took away Pande's SLR (rifle)," Dantewada SP Narendra Khare said.
Naxals, dressed as villagers, attacked the policemen who were on bandobast duty for the Kuakonda weekly market.
"Sahu though overpowered one of the attackers, the latter's aides attacked him with a knife and fled.
While Pande died of wounds at Dantewada hospital, Sahu is recovering and out of danger," the SP said.
In a seperate incident, ultras also set on fire some equipment, including a machine used in road construction, under Kuakonda police station limit.
The ultras, carrying bows and arrows, set ablaze the machine and warned labourers and contractor not to carry out any work there, Khare said.
A hunt has been launched to trace the naxalites, the SP added.