11 CRPF personnel killed in Naxal attack in Sukma, Chhattisgarh

Eleven Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were today killed when Naxals ambushed a road opening party of the security forces in Maoist-hit Sukma district of Chhattisgarh, police said. Five jawans were also injured in the attack that took place in the dense forests of Bhejji police station limits at 9:15 am, when a patrol party of CRPF's 219 battalion was out for a road opening task near Kotacheru village; 112 security personnel were part of the patrol party. The Naxals also looted 10 weapons and two radio sets from the slain men, officials said.

A senior official told PTI that the road opening party (ROP) of CRPF's 219th battalion was on an operation to ensure security to a patch on the under-construction Injram-Bhejji road, around 450 kms away from the state capital. While the ROP was passing through the forests between Bhejji and Kottacheru villages, Naxals opened indiscriminate fire on them, he said. Officials said the security personnel were first trapped in multiple Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blasts, followed by ambush with heavy gunfire. Additional forces have been rushed to the spot and the bodies of the deceased are being retrieved, he added. The injured have been air lifted and brought to the CRPF field hospital in Bheji. A special CoBRA team has been rushed in as a reinforcement.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed sadness over the killing of the CRPF personnel, adding that Home Minister Rajnath Singh will be travelling to Sukma to take stock of the situation.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi strongly condemned the killing and described the Naxal attack as dastardly and cowardly. Saluting the CRPF men for their supreme and unforgettable sacrifices, Gandhi said her thoughts and prayers were with the families of the victims. "India stands united in fight against terrorism and the government should give a befitting reply to the forces spreading terror in India," she said in a statement.