Dantewada Voters Turn Out in Huge Numbers After the Maoist Attack
BJP MLA Bhima Mandavi, 3 PSOs and driver were on 9 April killed in a Maoist attack in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada.
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The residents of Dantewada in Chhattisgarh came out in huge numbers to vote in the Lok Sabha elections on Thursday, 11 April, just two days after a convoy of BJP leaders was blown up by Maoists in the region.
Hours after BJP MLA Bhima Mandavi, three security personnel and a driver were killed in a Maoist attack in the region on Tuesday, 9 April, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said the government will respond to the Maoists “in a language they best understand.”
Despite the attack, the Election Commission had announced that polling in the state will be held as per schedule.
Earlier on Tuesday evening, Chhattisgarh DGP DM Awasthi told the media that Mandavi was warned by police against taking that particular route from Bacheli to Kuwakonda.
Moments after the incident, PM Narendra Modi on Twitter condemned the attack and said that “sacrifices of these martyrs will not go in vain.”
- Maoists blew up the vehicle, carrying Mandavi, three security personnel and a driver, with an IED and opened fire at the occupants
- Visuals from the blast site showed the mangled remains of the vehicle and a gaping hole on the road on which it passed before Naxals blew it up
Read the live updates of the Dantewada Maoist attack on BJP convoy here.
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Maoists Attack Convoy in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada: BJP MLA Missing
Five security personnel reported dead after Maoists attacked a convoy in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada on Tuesday, 9 April. BJP’s Dantewada MLA Bhima Mandavi was also in the convoy. Further details are awaited.
Convoy of BJP MLA Bhima Mandavi Came Under IED Attack: CRPF
Between Kuakonta and Syamgiri in Dantewada, the convoy of BJP MLA Bheema Mandavi came under an IED attack today, said CRPF. They added reinforcements have been rushed to the spot.
BJP MLA Bhima Mandavi Among 5 Killed in Dantewada Maoist Attack
P Sundar Raj, DIG-Anti-Naxal Ops, confirmed that BJP MLA Bheema Mandavi was among the five killed in the Maoist attack in Dantewada.
It Was a Powerful IED Blast, Bodies to be Evacuated at the Earliest: DIG-Anti-Naxal Ops
P Sundar Raj, DIG-Anti-Naxal Ops said, “We have information of BJP MLA Bhima Mandavi, his driver and 3 PSOs getting killed in IED blast in Dantewada, today evening. It was a powerful IED blast. Bodies to be evacuated at the earliest for identification.”
‘Sacrifices Won’t Go in Vain’: PM Modi Condemns Dantewada Attack
Moments after the naxal attack in Dantewada, PM Modi on Twitter condemned the incident, saying the “sacrifices of these martyrs will not go in vain.”
PM Modi also condoled the death of the BJP leader, Bhima Mandavi and extended condolences to bereaved family.
Amit Shah Condemns Dantewada Attack as an 'Act of Cowardice'
Condemning the Dantewada Maoist attack, BJP chief Amit Shah tweeted, “Such act of cowardice cannot deter BJP from its commitment to fight naxalism.”
Former Chhattisgarh CM attacks State Congress Govt
Expressing deep grief over the Dantewada Maoist attack, former chief minister Raman Singh accused the Congress government of failing to provide security to public representatives.
Mandavi was the lone BJP MLA in the region and therefore he was targeted, Singh claimed.
"During his election campaign, I was told by BJP workers and people that Naxals were saying their rule had come to the region. I could not understand it then, but after this incident I realised why Naxals said so," Singh said, claiming that Bastar had become a safe haven for the ultras.
(Source: PTI)
DGP DM Awasthi Addresses Media Over Dantewada Maoist Attack
DGP DM Awasthi, while briefing the media, said, “Bachheli PS Incharge had informed the BJP MLA that adequate security was not present on the route near Kuakonda and that he should not go there.”
Congress Condemns Chhattisgarh Naxal Attack, Rahul Terms It 'Very Tragic' Incident
The Congress on Tuesday, 9 April, condemned the Naxal attack in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district with party president Rahul Gandhi terming it a "very tragic" incident.
"The naxal attack in Dantewada, Chhattisgarh is very tragic. I pray to God for the peace to the departed soul and strength to the families of those killed," Gandhi tweeted.
The Congress, on its official Twitter handle, wrote, "We strongly condemn the Naxal attack on the BJP convoy in Chattisgarh. Our deepest condolences to the families of the brave security personnel and Shri Bheema Mandavi (sic)."
Polling in Chhattisgarh for Lok Sabha Elections Will be as Per Schedule: ECI
The Election Commission said the polling in Chhattisgarh for the Lok Sabha Elections will go as per the schedule. CEC Sunil Arora held an immediate Video Conference meeting of collectors and SPs of the affected districts covering Phase 1 and phase 2 in Chhattisgarh and instructed them to take utmost precautions over the next few days.
I Extend My Deepest Condolences to Their Bereaved Families: Rajnath Singh
Condoling the death of BJP MLA Bhima Devi and four other people killed in the Dantewada Attack, Home Minister Rajnath Singh tweeted, “I spoke to Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Shri @bhupeshbaghel regarding the IED attack in Dantewada and expressed my grief over the martyrdom of state police personnel. He has also apprised me of the ground situation in Dantewada.”
Jharkhand CM Condemns Chhattisgarh Naxal Attack
Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das on Tuesday, 9 April, expressed grief at the killing of Chhatisgarh BJP MLA Bhima Mandavi and four security personnel in the neighbouring state by the Maoists.
"The cowardly act by the Naxalites will neither dent the morale of the security forces nor of the BJP. The entire country is with the bereaved families," Das said in his condolence message.
Will Respond to Maoists in a Language They Understand: Chhattisgarh CM
After holding a high-level meeting, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said, “Our government was trying to gain trust of tribal public. So in desperation, Naxals committed this heinous crime. We held a meeting of officials and reiterated "Naxalo ki har goli ka jawab unhi ki bhasha mein diya jaaye” (The answer to every Naxal bullet will be given in a language they understand best).
He added, “I will be participating in the funeral tomorrow. Tribute will be paid to the jawans at Police ground. Home Minister, DG and I will be present there.”
BJP Says EC Should Take Charge of Security in Chhattisgarh
The BJP, on Tuesday demanded that the Election Commission of India take control of security in Chhattisgarh.
A delegation of party leaders including state BJP chief Vikram Usendi and former minister Brijmohan Agrawal submitted a letter to Chhattisgarh's Chief Electoral Officer late in the evening.
The letter demanded CBI probe into the attack, and urged the commission to make extensive security arrangements for the 11 April polling in Bastar Lok Sabha constituency by taking control of the entire security set-up.
The letter alleged that the Congress government in the state was hand in glove with Naxals, and added that Tuesday's incident took place due to this "political conspiracy" which the CBI should probe.
As there was fear in the region, the EC should take over all control of the security arrangements, it said.
Maoists Warn Candidates in Gadchiroli
Maoists warned candidates in Gadchiroli of a fate similar to BJP MLA Bhima Mandavi, and asked the locals not to boycott the polls, reported The Hindu.
Mortal Remains of BJP MLA Brought to Party Office
The mortal remains of BJP MLA Bheema Mandavi were brought to the party's office in Dantewada on Wednesday morning.
100 Naxals Suspected to Be Involved in Dantewada Ambush
At least 100 Naxals are suspected to be involved in the Dantewada attack which took place on Tuesday, police told PTI.
According to reports, police have recovered a GPS device of Naxals from the site in which the rebels had set the location of the Improvised Explosive Device (IED) used in the incident.
"We have received inputs that around 100 Naxals, including 50 to 60 armed and rest militia (lower rung) members, led by commanders Deva and Vinod, were involved in the attack," Dantewada Superintendent of Police Abhishek Pallava told PTI.
Three weapons, including a 9 MM pistol and two rifles, were reported to be missing from the attack site, he said.
Chhattisgarh BJP Leaders Change 'Profile Pictures' to Condemn Naxal Attack
BJP leaders in Chhattisgarh took to social media to express grief and anger over the death of a party MLA in Naxal attack, replacing their profile pictures with a black circle.
Former chief minister Raman Singh, state BJP chief Vikram Usendi, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Dharamlal Kaushik and others changed their profile pictures on Facebook and Twitter as a mark of protest.
46.59% Voter Turnout as of 3 pm in Uttarakhand
The residents of Dantewada in Chhattisgarh came out in huge numbers to vote in the Lok Sabha elections on Thursday, 11 April, just two days after a convoy of BJP leaders was blown up by Maoists in the region.
46.59 percent voter turnout was recorded in the five constituencies of Uttarakhand till 3 pm, in the first phase of polling.