In a major attack, the Maoists triggered a powerful IED blast on Wednesday in restive Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh which ripped through a mini-truck carrying paramilitary CRPF troopers. All the seven CRPF men who were inside the vehicle were killed, a top police official informed.

“It was a massive blast which tossed the vehicle several feet up in air and then it landed on ground in four pieces. The blast created a giant crater on a busy newly-repaired road at Malewara on Dantewada-Sukma road which is about 400 km south from State capital Raipur,’’ DM Awasthi, Director General of Police (Naxal Operation), told reporters.

The dead CRPF personnel belonged to 230th battalion. local police officials who rushed to the spot within 45-50 minutes, said that the martyred cops were unarmed and had been in civil uniform as they were returning from a leave period to join anti-Naxal operation.

local tribals who first got access to the blast site and tipped off police about the incident, stated that bodies of the CRPF men were beyond recognition as their body organs were found strewn several metres away from the attack site.Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh strongly condemned the incident and termed it “a clear sign of frustration among Naxals who are feeling the heat of increased police presence in their strongholds”. He said, “I salute the supreme sacrifice of the seven CRPF men and the attack has strengthened my resolve to weed out Naxalism from the State.”

Initial probe indicates that up to five-nine Maoists executed the blast for which over 40 kg explosives could have been used to target a mini-truck.

Dozens of heavily armed paramilitary troopers have launched operation to apprehend the insurgents who are reportedly slipped into the nearby jungle.