Maoists fire at securitymen at Dantewada

Maoists on Wednesday late night opened fire on five separate CRPF camps in quick succession in Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh, triggering gunbattles, but there was no immediate report of casualties.

The Naxalites fired from a distance on the camps, where the paramilitary personnel and policemen were resting, at Chitangufa, Kanker Lanka, Petampalli, Bheji and Erawa at around 1930 hours, SP Dantewada Amaresh Mishra said.

The CRPF and the policemen retaliated, sparking intermittent gunbattles with the Maoists which lasted till 2130 hours, he said adding there was no report of casualty in the standoff.

Mishra said the firing by the Maoists could have been to facilitate the escape of the ultras to adjacent Orissa.

Sources said all CRPF and police camps in the area have been put on high alert after the incident.

The incidents tonight came two weeks after the Maoists carried out the worst attack at Chitangufa on April 6 killing 75 CRPF men and a policeman.