Cong condemns Naxal attack in Chhattisgarh

NEW DELHI: Condemning the Naxal attack in pollbound Chhattisgarh in which two police personnel and a DD News cameraman were killed, the Congress on Tuesday expressed its condolences and said people were determined to oust the Raman Singh government in the state.

While Congress president Rahul Gandhi said the attack in the state's Dantewada district had saddened him, the party's chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala paid tributes to the deceased and termed the BJP government in the state "incompetent and worthless".

Two policemen were also injured in the attack near Nilawaya village, about 450 km from the state capital Raipur.

CM Raman Singh has described the ambush as a cowardly act by Naxals who are against democracy and development and have acted out of desperation. Expressing his sorrow and condolences, the Congress chief said on Twitter, "I express my sorrow and deep condolences to the families of the two policemen and Doordarshan cameraman killed in the attack." Surjewala paid tributes to the deceased and said the people of Naxalhit Chhattisgarh had made up their mind to oust the "incompetent and worthless government of Chief Minister Raman Singh". "A coward and scared Raman Singh has no right to be the chief minister even for a minute now," he said.

Senior Congress leader Anand Sharma described the attack as disturbing and said the BJP government in the state and the central government could have made elaborate arrangements ahead of elections in the state. Hitting out at the government, he cited Home Minister Rajnath Singh's claim of having curbed Naxalism.

The attack took place around 11 am in a forest area near Nilawaya village. The Maoists ambushed a squad of local police which was carrying out patrol duties.