Naxals attack Salwa Judum camps in Chhattisgarh

Maoists opened fire on Salwa Judum (anti-Naxal) activists located near camps of the Central Reserve Police Force and police, triggering a gunbattle, and set off an improvised explosive device in Dantewada district on Tuesday. However, there was no immediate report of casualty on either side in the face-off as intermittent exchange of fire continued late into the night, police sources said.

The Maoists targeted the Salwa Judum camps, which are located near camps of CRPF and police, at six places--Injaram, Bhejji, Arrabore, Gorkha, Gonta and Maruiguda--

from a distance, drawing immediate retaliation from the security personnel. The Naxals resorted to heavy firing in Injaram and Arrabore, said the sources.

The Salwa Judum is anti-Maoist force comprising of armed civilians with the tacit support of the Chhattisgarh government. The Naxals set off an improvised explosive device in the Gadiras area of the district. All CRPF and police camps in the district were put on high alert in the wake of the attacks late this evening.