RAIPUR: In a second major attack within a week, two policemen and a Doordarshan (DD) cameraman were killed in the Maoist ambush at forested terrain of Nilavaya close to Aranpur in one of the worst Maoist affected Dantewada district, south Chhattisgarh on Tuesday morning.

The security forces out on a routine anti-Maoist operation were trapped in an ambush. Doordarshan team reportedly accompanying the troopers was caught in a crossfire when the naxalites opened fire on the security forces.

A three-member DD team, according to the Dantewada superintendent of police Abhishek Pallav, had come from Delhi for election coverage in the region. The deceased cameraman Achuyatanand Sahoo belonged to Badgad district of Odisha. "Two police personnel and a DD cameraman were killed in the attack. Three other security personnel sustained injuries and rushed to Dantewada hospital. Their condition are stated to be stable", Pallava said.

Prasar Bharati parivar condoles the death of Cameraman Achyutananda Sahu earlier today near Dantewada in Chhatisgarh. Our prayers with his family during this difficult moment. pic.twitter.com/BQOMg4Jo04

— Prasar Bharati (@prasarbharati) October 30, 2018

Unconfirmed report stated that the forces were offering security to the DD team when the Maoists opened fire. The two jawans killed were identified as assistant sub inspector Rudra Pratap Singh and a constable Mangal Ram.

Dantewada Naxal attack: Two security personnel who were injured brought to hospital. Two security personnel and a DD cameraman lost their lives in the attack. #Chhattisgarh pic.twitter.com/ZiqbwiNbNs

— ANI (@ANI) October 30, 2018

Additional forces have been rushed the spot from the nearby places and the area has been cordoned off, said the DIG (state intelligence branch) P Sunderraj.

With the threat of Maoists' poll boycott call and the assembly elections earlier marred by the rebels' violence, the holding of peaceful election yet again poses stiff challenge for the Election Commission (EC) and the administration.

On Saturday last, four jawans of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were killed in Maoist attack at Basaguda in the strife-torn Bijapur district about 350 km south of Raipur.

The first phase of election covering 12 constituencies of conflict zone of Bastar and six seats of Rajnandgaon district will be held on November 12. As many 190 candidates are in the fray for the first phase of Chhattisgarh polls.