Chhattisgarh Congress MLA Vikram Mandavi had a narrow escape after his convoy was attacked by Naxals near Padeda village in Bijapur district. Naxalites also fired at the vehicle of district panchayat member Parvati Kashyap, who was a part of the MLA's convoy.
There was no casualty due to the incident and all the people who were part of the convoy are said to be safe. A large number of police personnel have been deployed in the area and searches are being conducted.
"Bijapur MLA Vikram Mandavi was returning after attending a public event and reached Bijapur district headquarters safely. Probe underway related to any activity by Naxals in the area," ANI quoted police as saying.
Talking to reporters, Mandavi said he had gone to attend a nukkad sabha (street meeting) in Gangalur weekly market and was returning to Bijapur when shots were fired near Padeda village.
Earlier in the day, a maoist was killed in a gun battle with security personnel in a forest in Bijapur district, PTI reported. Two Maoists, one of them injured, were also apprehended following the encounter.
There have been several instances of naxals targeting MLAs and other political leaders in Chhattisgarh.
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Earlier this year in February, three BJP functionaries were killed in a week in Chhattisgarh by Maoists.
On February 14, Ramdhar Alami, 43, a former sarpanch, was hacked to death by Maoists at Barsoor in Dantewada district while he was on his way home to Hitameta village, according to a report in The Indian Express.
On February 5, Neelkanth Kakem, 48, BJP's divisional head of Awapalli in Bijapur district, was killed when three alleged Maoists stabbed with sharp weapons in Bijapur district.
On February 10, Sagar Sahu, 47, deputy chief of the BJP's Narayanpur district unit, was shot dead at his home by two suspected Maoists.
In April 2019, BJP MLA Bhima Mandavi and four policemen were killed when Maoists blew up their vehicle using an improvised explosive device in Dantewada region. A huge crater was left at the attack site after the MLA's vehicle was hit by the IED.