At least 25 CRPF personnel were killed and several others wounded in an attack by Maoists in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district today, the deadliest attack by naxalites targeting security forces this year.
The naxalites mounted the assault around 12:25 PM in Kalapathar area of south Bastar region.
The area is one of the worst-hit by Left-wing extremism in the country and is close to the Chintagufa-Burkapal-Bheji axis, the hotbed of naxal violence which has seen a number of such attacks in the past resulting in high casualties.
"As per the latest report, we have lost 25 men," a senior CRPF officer said, adding the paramilitary patrol was about 99 personnel-strong.
Around 7-8 personnel, who were earlier reported missing, have been accounted for, he said.
All the troops belonged to the 74th battalion of the force depolyed in the area for anti-Maoist operations.
The paramilitary force said in a statement issued in New Delhi, "The CRPF troops replied in a befitting manner but taking geographical position in (sic) their advantage, Maoists succeeded in inflicting loss to CRPF.
"24 brave soldiers were martyred at the battle ground and one succumbed to his injuries while being evacuated to hospital in Raipur."
It claimed,"Considerable number of Maoists are belived to have been eliminated (in retaliatory action by CRPF men) as the tell-tale sign indicate from the ground." However, no bodies of the Leftist guerrillas have yet been found.
The bodies of the slain personnel have been air-lifted to Raipur, where the seven injured are hospitalised.
Here is the list of all 25 personnel:
1. Insp/GD Raghubir Singh
2. SI/GD K.K. Das
3. ASI/GD Sanjay Kumar
4. ASI/GD Rameswar Lal
5. ASI/GD Naresh Kumar
6. HC/RO Surender Kumar
7. HC/RO Banna Ram
8. HC/GD L.P. Singh
9. HC/GD Naresh Yadav
10. HC/GD Padmanabhan
11. CT/GD Saurabh Kumar
12. CT/GD Abhay Mishra
13. CT/GD Banmali Ram
14. CT/GD N.P. Sonkar
15. CT/GD K.K. Pandey
16. CT/GD Vinay Chandra Burman
17. CT/GD P. Alagupandi
18. CT/GD Abhay Kumar
19. CT/GD N. Senthil Kumar
20. CT/GD N. Thirumurgan
21. CT/GD Ranjit Kumar
22. CT/GD Ashish Singh
23. CT/GD Manoj Kumar
24. CT/GD Anup Karmakar
25. HC/GD Ram Mehar (at Raipur)
CRPF patrol attacked by over 300 Maoist guerrillas
An injured jawan, brought to a hospital here, said the CRPF patrol was attacked by around 300 Maoist guerrillas.
"The naxals first sent villagers to check our position... I also saw some women naxals. They were all wearing black uniforms and had sophisticated weapons like the AK series assualt rifles," CRPF constable Sher Mohammed said.
He said around 10-12 naxalites must have got killed in the "befitting" retaliation by the CRPF contingent.
Sourav Malik, another personnel who was injured in the attack, said the patrol came under sudden fire from Maoist rebels.
CRPF officials said the ambush set up by the naxals was as deadly as the one on March 11 in Bheji area of the same district where 12 personnel lost their lives.
It is understood that the company commander, an Inspector rank officer leading the contingent which was ambushed today, was also killed.
The officer said the CRPF patrol, like in the Bheji incident, was sanitising the area where a road is being laid between Burkapal and Jagargunda, when the assault happened.
The naxals were believed to have also looted over a dozen weapons of the slain personnel, the officer said.
Reinforcements, including CoBRA commandos of the CRPF and its other units, have been rushed to the scene from the nearest camp of the paramilitary force, the officer added.
The incident comes at a time when the country's largest paramilitary force is without a full-time chief after K Durga Prasad retired on February 28.
Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi also reviewed the situation in the aftermath of the attack at his North Block office.
Sacrifices of martyrs will not go in vain, says PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the naxal attack on CRPF personnel, terming it as a "cowardly and deplorable" act, and asserted that the sacrifices of the martyrs will not go in vain.
"Attack on @crpfindia personnel in Chhattisgarh is cowardly & deplorable. We are monitoring the situation closely," he tweeted.
"We are proud of the valour of our @crpfindia personnel. The sacrifice of the martyrs will not go in vain. Condolences to their families," he added.
He wished speedy recovery to those injured in today's attack.
Saddened by attack: Rajnath Singh
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said he was saddened by the attack and was sending Minister of State Hansraj Ahir to Chhattisgarh to take stock of the situation.
"Extremely pained to know about the killing of CRPF personnel in Sukma. My tributes to the martyrs and condolences to their families."
"Spoke to MoS Home Shri Hansraj Ahir about the attack in Sukma. Shri Ahir is going to Chhattisgarh to take stock of the situation," he tweeted.
The officer added Ahir will be accompanied by Joint Secretary (naxal management) in the home ministry Praveen Vashisht and acting CRPF Director General Sudeep Lakhtakia.
Another MoS in the home ministry Kiren Rijiju said the incident was a "set back and a big tragedy".
Attack shows Naxals' cowardice: CM Raman Singh
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh today said the attack on CRPF personnel in Sukma shows Naxals' cowardice and assured that the injured jawans will be provided all possible help.
"I pay my condolences to families of martyred personnel and those who have been injured in the attack. All possible help will be provided to injured jawans," Singh said.
The attack on jawans in Sukma shows Naxals' cowardice, he said.
Singh, who was in the national capital to attend some programmes, cut short his visit and went back to Raipur. He was scheduled to leave from here tomorrow.
"I am extremely distressed to know about the Naxal attack in Sukma. I am cancelling my Delhi tour and returning to Chhattisgarh to attend a meeting (on the attack)," he wrote on Twitter.
Sonia Gandhi condemns Sukma attack
Congress President Sonia Gandhi condemned the attack on CRPF personnel in Sukma by Maoists and said the sacrifice of jawans is a big loss to the nation.
"Describing the attack as a mindless and ruthless strike on our security forces, Smt Gandhi said that the sacrifice of twenty four brave men is a big loss to the nation. Such attacks will never deter the fight against extremism," she said.
"She also expressed solidarity with friends and families of the martyrs and has prayed for the early recovery and good health of the injured," a statement said.
Rahul Gandhi salutes sacrifice of CRPF personnel
"My sincere condolences to the families of CRPF personnel martyred in the attack in Sukma. We salute the sacrifice and courage of our bravehearts. This thoughtless violence will never succeed in weakening our resolve to fight forces of extremism," Rahul Gandhi said on Twitter.
(With PTI inputs)
