Former BJP legislator from Manoharpur Gurucharan Nayak had a narrow escape when armed naxals attacked him during a football match at Sonua thana area in West Singhbhum district, about 135 km away from here on Tuesday evening.

Two of his bodyguards - Thakur Hembram and Shankar Nayak - were killed in the attack while the former MLA managed to escape as he entered into the crowd alongwith another bodyguard, who was injured in the attack.

The naxal attack took place at Jheelrua village, about 2.5 km s away from Sonua thana at round 5.30 pm last evening , just after the football match got over.

The BJP legislator attended the football match as chief guest.

West Singhbhum police confirmed the attack was by CPI-Maoist rebels who snatched rifles of all the three bodyguards after killing two of them on the spot.

The former legislator and the surviving bodyguard were brought to Sonua thana later.

Additional forces where soon rushed to the spot to carry out operations and long range patrolling in the nearby jungles.

BJP state president Deepak Prakash condemned the incident saying that a 'Jungle Raj' ( lawlessness) was prevailing in the state.

How will common people feel safe if a public representative cannot intermingle with people, he said in Ranchi adding that the incident is a complete failure of the law and order system in the state.

According to political sources, former chief Minister Babulal Marandi was likely to visit the spot of the incident on Wednesday afternoon.