Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh, Apr 24 (UNI) In this year’s most dastardly attack against law-enforcement authorities in Chhattisgarh, an approximately two-hour-long ambush staged this afternoon by in excess of 300 Maoists ? including women ? armed with modern weapons and mortars within a forest, in the vicinity of Burkapal village in Sukma District’s Chintagufa Police Station limits, resulted in the martyrdom of 26 personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force’s 74th Battalion (Btn) even as six were grievously injured and eight missing in action.
Police claimed that approximately half-a-dozen rebels were neutralised in the encounter. The deceased personnel’s weapons were looted by ultras.
The deadly sequence of events unfolded with a joint team leaving for a search from the Police Station. The assault, which took place merely one-and-a-half km from the Police Station, commenced with a massive landmine explosion and a heavy volume of fire was subsequently unleashed by the outlaws who had the tactical advantage of higher ground by virtue of being positioned atop hills.
Confirming the toll, Deputy Inspector General of Police (Bastar Range) Sundarraj P and Superintendent of Police Abhishek Meena said that those hurt were rushed to the state capital by helicopter. One succumbed en route and the rest were admitted to private hospitals. Circumstantial evidence on the scene of crime, patches of blood and signs of dragging indicated that about half-a-dozen guerrillas were eliminated and numerous injured. The corpses were taken away by other extremists.
It is suspected that the attack was perpetrated by Company Number One ? of the insurgents’ ‘Military Battalion’ ? led by one Seetu alias Sonu. The area has security camps every 5 km. Owing to heavy Naxal presence and darkness in the virtually-inaccessible zone, the martyrs’ bodies are yet to be recovered. It is impossible to land choppers there.
In a message, Prime Minister Narendra Modi denounced the incident as cowardly and deplorable. “We are monitoring the situation closely. We are proud of the valour of our personnel. The sacrifice of the martyrs will not go in vain. Condolences to their families. May those injured recover at the earliest,” he stated.
“Extremely pained to know about the killing? My tributes to the martyrs? Minister of State for Home Hansraj Ahir is going to Chhattisgarh to take stock of the situation,” wrote Home Affairs Minister Rajnath Singh.
Governor Balramji Das Tandon and Chief Minister Raman Singh expressed grief. Dr Singh cut short his visit to the national capital, air-dashed to Raipur and called a review meeting.
On March 11, as many as 12 personnel of the CRPF’s 219th Btn were killed and three severely hurt in an encounter in this district. That detachment was to provide security cover to Injram-Bhejji road-laying work. The martyrs’ weapons were looted on that occasion as well.
On April 6, 2010, more than 70 CRPF personnel attained martyrdom in Dantewada District from which Sukma was carved out subsequently. UNI