Sixteen policemen were feared killed in a Maoist attack in the Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh this evening. The attack took place about 3.45 pm near Tong Guda village, bordering Andhra Pradesh.

The party comprising 21 personnel from the state armed police and the district constabulary was on foot when Maoists triggered a blast and sprayed gunfire. Inspector General of Police (Bastar range) R K Vij said the policemen were coming to Pamed police station from Cherla village to collect their salary.

“Five policemen with gunshot wounds reached Pamed police station late this evening,” he said.

Chhattisgarh Home Minister Ram Vichar Netam said: “The chances of survival of missing personnel are bleak, but a search mission will be launched,” he said.

A senior police officer said the attack site was inside an area controlled by the Maoists, so combing could be taken up only in the morning. Sources said the Pamed police station was the last sign of government presence in the region, and a proposal to shut it down had already been submitted.

Today’s attack comes on the heels of one carried out on October 29, in which five Special Police Officers (SPOs) were killed.