Angered by BJP leader`s efforts to bring Dantewada people to mainstream, Naxals attack him

Dantewada: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and member of Zila Panchayat, Nandlal Mudami was attacked by Naxals in Palnar area of Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district on Sunday. He has been admitted to the district hospital and his condition is critical.

Reflecting on what may be the cause, police said that since the BJP leader did a lot for the upliftment of the area, he has been attacked.

"Mudami played a major role in bringing people in Palnar to the mainstream. This angered the Naxals. We used to keep getting the info that they are planning to strike back,": said Abhishek Pallav, Superintendent of Police, Dantewada.

"The attack took place when he went to see his wife who had fallen ill. Some villagers are involved in this case too. We have launched an investigation and will soon arrest all the culprits," Pallav added.

The attack comes even as the authorities are putting in all efforts to increase security in the Naxal-infested area ahead of the elections due next month. 

Senior police officials of Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh had on Sunday held a meeting in Garhwa. DIG (Palamau) Vipul Shukla said the meeting was to make a plan on how to keep vigil on naxalites ahead of the elections in Chhatisgarh, which shares its border with Jharkhand's Garwha and Latehar districts.

Measures such as joint operation and keeping vigil along the border were among the matters discussed during the nearly 3-hour-long meeting, reports said.