Maoists attack chopper, 1 dead

Maoists on Friday opened fire at a four-seater helicopter in Kistaram, a village in Dantewada district, killing one police constable and injuring another. The village is located in Naxal-affected South Bastar region of the state. The helicopter was hired by the state Government from a private company to ferry ration for security personnel posted at Kistaram police station and to bring back injured policemen after attack from Maoists. As the chopper landed at Kistaram — one of the remotest areas in South Bastar — a group of Maoists opened fire at the helicopter and at the ground forces, who were guarding the helipad. Constable Laxmi Narayan Dhurv was killed in the firing. Another constable sustained serious injuries. As soon as the rebels started firing, the alert helicopter pilot took off, but two bullets hit the chopper.