Kirandul, Chhattisgarh:
Six personnel of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) have been killed in a Maoist attack in Kirandul near Dantewada in Chhattisgarh.
The incident occurred at around 9 pm when the CISF men were on a night patrol duty. They were travelling in a Bolero and were heading towards the pump house in Kirandul when the Maoists ambushed them. Their driver was also killed in the incident.
Reinforcements from the CISF and the Chhattisgarh Police rushed to the spot soon after the incident occurred following which the Maoists disbursed.
The bodies of the seven victims, meanwhile, have been recovered.
Kirandul is situated 30 kilometres from Dantewada - a known Maoist stronghold - and is a well-fortified CISF position. It is also one of the four iron ore mining blocks of the National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) in the Bailadila range in the state.
The Maoists, incidentally, have struck at the Kirandul mines and targeted the CISF several times in the past.
The latest attack comes close on the heels of a string of abductions by the Maoists, the most recent being that of the Collector of Sukma in the state.