Shalabh Sinha, SP Kawardha, Chhattisgarh

ASI Christopher Lakra is posted in Pandaripani and has been missing since April 21. He was last spotted in a nearby jungle by villagers. Yesterday, an abducted police officer was killed by Naxals in Chhattisgarh. The killing happened days after Chhattisgarh Police gunned down a top Maoist leader

Raipur: A day after an Assistant Sub-Inspector was killed, another police officer has gone missing in Chhattisgarh on Saturday. The authorities have launched a search operation for the missing policeman.

According to official reports, ASI Christopher Lakra is posted in Pandaripani and has been missing since April 21. He was last spotted in a nearby jungle by villagers.

While speaking to media, SP Kawardha, Shalabh Sinha said, "APC (ASI) Christopher Lakra who is posted at Pandaripani CAP camp has been missing since April 21. Locals of nearby villages have confirmed to have seen him near the jungle area. We are searching for him."

This has come a day after an abducted police officer was killed by Naxals in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district.

Yesterday, an ASI who was abducted by Naxals four days ago from Palnar village under Ganglur Police Station limits in Bijapur district was killed by them, said SP Bijapur, Kamalochan Kashyap.

The Assistant Police Sub Inspector was abducted by Naxals from Palnar village on April 21.

The attacks on security forces have increased ever since the police gunned down a top Naxal leader in Chhattisgarh earlier this week.

Back on April 20, a Naxal carrying a reward of Rs 5 lakh on his head was killed in an exchange of fire with Dantewada District Reserve Guard, in Neelawaya forest.

"In Exchange of fire with Dantewada DRG today morning at about 6 am in jungles of Neelawaya, a dead body of Maoist has been recovered, who has been identified as Kosa, resident of Mallapara, Neelawaya," said Dantewada SP Abhishek Pallav.

The DRG team also recovered one 9 mm pistol, one country-made Bharmar, one 3 kg IED, pithoos, medicines and items of daily use from the encounter site.

He was active in the Maoist organisation for the past 15 years and was currently a Malangir area committee member and Military intelligence in charge.

SP further said that he had more than 15 crimes registered against him in different police stations.