Policeman killed by suspected Naxals in Chhattisgarh

Rajnandgaon (Chhattisgarh): A police official was shot dead by suspected Naxals this evening in Chhattisgarh's insurgency-affected Rajnandgaon district, police said.

Assistant sub-inspector Narbad Boga (54) was killed around 6 PM near Chirchari village under Baghnadi police station limits on Raipur-Nagpur national highway, a senior police official said.

Boga and two other policemen had been sent there from Baghnadi after a report of road accident on the highway was received.

Two motorcycle-borne men fired on them and fled inside the forest. "While Boga sustained two bullet injuries in the incident, other two jawans escaped unhurt," the police officer said.

Security forces were rushed to the spot. Boga was taken to Rajnandgaon district headquarters where he succumbed during treatment.

"Prima facie it appears to be?the handiwork of?Maoists as the area borders on Maoist-affected region. However it would be too early to come to conclusion," the official said.

A combing operation was launched to nab the assailants, he added.