2 Government Officials, Road Contractor Abducted By Maoists In Chhattisgarh's Dantewada

Maoists have abductd two government officials and an employee of a road contractor in Chhattisgarh's insurgency-hit Dantewada district, police said on Saturday. They were identified as Sub Engineer (PMGSY) Arun Marawi, technical assistant (MNREGA) Mohan Baghel and an accountant of the construction contractor. According to news agency PTI, citing a senior police official, the three were abducted around 4 pm on Froday from Potali village. They were part of a road construction project under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna (PMGSY).

Following their abducted, teams of paramilitary and police rushed to the Potali village and launched a search and rescue operation in the area. However, there is information about their whereabouts and neither there has come any demand from the Maoists as yet.

Earlier last week, two police personnel were killed when Maoists opened fire on security forces in Jharkhand's Ranchi district. Acting on a tip-off that members of the banned CPI(Maoist) group have gathered near Dassam falls, between Bunduand Namkum, a team of Jharkhand Jaguar personnel had rushed tothe area around 4 am.

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"Even before the team could act, the Maoists openedfire, injuring two of our personnel. While one was declaredbrought dead at the hospital, another succumbed to hisinjuries during treatment," Additional Director General of Police Murari Lal Meena had said.

The security forces retaliated but there was no reportof any casualty from the other side, Meena said. The deceased policemen have been identified as Akhilesh Ram and Khonjan Kumar Mahto.