Raipur, Aug 26 - The Chhattisgarh government dismissed 13 policemen Wednesday for refusing to fight Maoist guerrillas. The cops refused to go to Rajnandgaon district where Maoists massacred 29 of their colleagues last month.

'We can't tolerate indiscipline, the 13 cops had openly refused to go to Madanwara in Rajnandgaon district where Maoists killed 29 policemen in coordinated attacks July 12 in which we lost a brave SP (superintendent of police) V.K.Choubey as well,' Inspector General of Police, R.K. Vij told IANS.

He added that 'More policemen are on our firing line, we will deal strongly with those not ready to join postings in battle zone.'

In July, 29 constables were suspended in Janjgir-Champa district after they refused to go for a 15-day orientation course at the Counter-Insurgency Training and Jungle Warfare College (CTJWC).

Chhattisgarh has been witnessing a string of attacks on policemen and civilians since June 2005 when a government backed civil militia movement, Salwa Judum, was launched in Bastar to flush out the rebels.

Over 1,500 people have been killed in Maoist-related violence in Chhattisgarh since November 2000, when the state was carved out of Madhya Pradesh.