Dantewada is in the Bastar Lok Sabha constituency which goes to the polls on April 11 in Phase I. The Election Commission has said the polling in the State would be held as scheduled.

The MLA’s convoy was going to Kuwakonda from the Bacheli, 450 km from State capital Raipur. The ambush occurred at the Shyamagiri hills on the way. One vehicle in the convoy was blown up in an IED blast. Besides, the Maoists opened fire on the party.

Those killed were driver Danteshwar Maurya and jawans Chhagan Kuldeep, Somdu Kawasi and Ramlal Oyami.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted condolence messages and paid tributes to those killed.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi termed it a “very tragic” incident.

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel spoke to the DG, Anti-Naxal operations.

Former CM Raman Singh said, “I am in contact with Central Ministers and spoke to PM Narendra Modi an hour ago. I will go to Dantewada and meet the families of the deceased.”

Over 80,000 personnel, and drones, have been deployed in the Bastar region.

The State Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) held a video meeting with collectors and SPs of the districts going to the polls in Phases I and 2.

Preliminary findings suggest that against the advice of an area police station in-charge, Mr. Mandavi had taken a route where there was no road-opening party of security personnel, the Commission was told.

Four BSF personnel were killed and two others injured in an encounter with Maoists in Kanker district on Thursday.