2 Jawans Killed in Bijapur in Maoists Attack Ahead of Modi’s Visit

Two jawans of the DRG were killed as Naxals targeted a bus with IEDs in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district

Image used for representational purposes

(Photo: PTI)

Two jawans of the District Reserve Guards (DRG) were killed and five were injured as Naxals targetted a bus with an improvised explosive device (IED) in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district on Monday, 9 April, reported PTI

According to Hindustan Times (HT), more than 30 jawans were travelling in the bus.

“They were travelling from Kutru to Jangla when the bus was targeted by the Maoists. Two jawans of district reserve guards (DRG) were killed and five were seriously injured,” said special director general (anti-naxal operations) DM Awasthi, as quoted by HT.

The attack comes just days before Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Bijapur to launch government’s ambitious healthcare programme, ‘Ayushman Bharat’. Modi will also address a rally and inaugurate a railway line from Dalli Rajahara to Bhanupratapur.

Naxals had also put up some pamphlets in the Mahadeoghat area, opposing Modi’s scheduled visit to Bijapur, reported PTI.

The prime minister would dedicate to the nation the 'Ayushman Bharat' scheme, the government's mega healthcare initiative, from Bijapur on the birth anniversary of Dr BR Ambedkar.

Under the scheme, the government plans to open 1.5 lakh health and wellness centres in the country to provide people-centric comprehensive primary healthcare.

Also, over 10 crore poor and vulnerable families (approx 50 crore beneficiaries) in the country will be provided treatment coverage up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation under the scheme.

(With inputs from PTI and Hindustan Times)