Two days before the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections, A BJP convoy was attacked by Naxals in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada district on Tuesday. BJP MLA Bhima Mandavi and four security personnel were killed in the attack as Naxals exploded an improvised explosive device while the convoy was passing by.
The attack took place near the Shyamgiri village under Kowakanda police station around 5 PM. Along with the BJP leader’s convoy, the escort vehicle of Chhattisgarh State Police also came under the blast. Four personnel of Chhattisgarh State Police have also been killed. Initially, the BJP MLA was reported missing but P Sundar Raj, DIG, Anti-Naxal Operations, confirmed that Mandavi was killed in the attack.
According to News18, the BJP MLA was on an election campaign and the convoy was advised not to take the particular route. However, the campaigning was ending and they wanted to cover maximum ground, and that could be the reason that route, which is a shortcut, was chosen.
Chhattisgarh police and CRPF have reached the spot. Security has been heightened and the area has been cordoned off.
"All the killed security personnel are from District Reserve Group," said an official. The District Reserve Group is a locally raised force vested with battling Maoists.
Mandavi was the lone Bharatiya Janata Party MLA from Bastar region which accounts for 12 Assembly seats.
Three constituencies in Chhattisgarh will be going to polls in the first phase of the Lok Sabha Elections.
(This is a developing story)