In Chhattisgarh, former leader of opposition in the State assembly Mahendra Karma and Ex-MLA Udai Mudiliyar were killed in a Maoist attack on a convoy of vehicles of Congress parivartan yatra at Darbha Ghat in tribal Bastar district. Ex-Union Minister Mr. V C Shukla has been seriously injured while ten more people are feared killed in the attack.

Chatisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee president Mr. Nandkumar Patel and his son Dinesh Patel are reported missing.

AIR Raipur correspondent Vikalp Shukla reports that the leaders were on their way to Keshloor after attending a parivartan yatra meeting at Sukma when Maoists opened fire and also triggered a powerful blast targeting their vehicles. Our correspopndent adds that Mr. Shukla is still at the place of the attack.

A heavy contingent of security forces, including from the para-military, have been pressed into service for search and combing operations in the area to flush out the rebels. Senior police officials held an emergency meeting in the state capital to review and to take stock of the situation.

Leader of the opposition in the assembly Ravindra Choubey said it was the responsibility of the state government to provide adequate security to parivartan Yatra. He said parivartan yatra would continue as scheduled.