A massive search operation has been launched in the Gairiabandh jungles in Chhattisgarh following the naxal attack Monday night in which 9 policemen, including one ASP were killed. One of the policeman is still missing. Meanwhile, rich tributes were paid in Raipur on Monday to the jawans killed in the naxal attack.These policemen were killed in a naxalite ambush in the Gariabandh area of the Raipur district as they were returning from a search operation last evening.The bodies of these 9 policemen were recovered from the site today and airlifted to Raipur where Mr. Sekhar Dutt, Governor of the state, Dr. Raman Singh, the Chief Minister, his cabinet colleagues, senior police officials and others offered floral tributes to the departed policemen.AIR correspondent reports, it was for the first time that the Gariabandh area which is barely 100 kms away from the capital Raipur stood witness to the naxal wrath of this magnitude. Sensing the increased naxal presence in the area, the state government has of late declared Gariabandh as a separate police district. However, coming barely a week after a similar naxalite ambush in the Dantewada district in which 7 CRPF personnel were killed, the incident has cast an eerie spell across the state. The shifting of the scene of naxal vehemence this time from the far off Bastar to Gariabandh has left many people high and dry as regards the naxal strategy in inflicting damage on the police force. Meanwhile, fingers are being kept crossed, especially by the relatives of the missing jawan for his safe and early return.