Dheeraj Kumar, DD correspondent who survived today's Dantewada Naxal attack tells PTI of the incident: "Cameraman Achyutananda Sahu was in a separate car 50 metres  ahead when he was fired upon. As shots were fired at me, I fell into a pit and for 45 minutes witnessed many rounds of bullets being fired and grenades exploding nearby."


The incident took place at around 11 am in a forest area near Nilawaya village, around 450 kms from Raipur. Deputy Inspector General (anti-naxal operations) Sundarraj P said the maoists ambushed a squad of local police which was carrying out patrolling on motor cycles from Sameli camp towards Nilawaya on Tuesday morning, he said.


A three-member team of Doordarshan was travelling for election-related news coverage at the same time and was caught in the cross-fire, he said.


In the attack, Sub Inspector Rudra Pratap Singh, Assistant Constable Mangalu and DD News Cameraman Achyutananda Sahu were killed, Sundarraj said.


Sahu had come from New Delhi for the election coverage, he said. Other two members of the DD team, including a journalist, were safe, the officer said.


Constable Vishnu Netam and Assistant Constable Rakesh Kaushal sustained injuries in the gunfight, he added. The injured have been admitted to Dantewada district hospital, he said, adding that if required, they would be airlifted to Raipur for further medication.