In one of the deadliest attacks by Maoists targeting security forces, heavily-armed Naxals, including women guerrillas, ambushed a CRPF contingent in a forested patch in Kalapathar area in Sukma district in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region on Monday around 12.25 pm killing at least 25 CRPF personnel and wounding 7. An officer said the assault on the CRPF patrol of the 74th battalion took place when it was sanitising the area where a road is being laid between Burkapal and Jagargunda.
A few CRPF men are reported to be missing after the deadly ambush in Sukma, which had seen the deadliest Naxal massacre in April 2010 in which 76 CRPF jawans were martyred.
Although casualty among Maoists in the ensuring encounter could not be assessed till going to Press, an injured jawan, Sheikh Mohammed, claimed that insurgents too sustained casualties in the retaliatory firing that went on for about three hours.
As many as six critically injured CRPF jawans were airlifted to Raipur. An injured jawan, brought to a hospital, 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 assault rifles,” the unidentified jawan said.
He said around 10-12 Maoists must have got killed in the “befitting” retaliation by the CRPF contingent.
The company commander, Raghubir Singh, an Inspector rank officer, was among those killed. The Naxals are 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 said.
President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the attack. “Strongly condemn attack on CRPF personnel in Chhattisgarh; condolences to families of deceased and prayers for injured (sic),” the President tweeted.
Calling the attack a “cowardly and deplorable” act, the Prime Minister tweeted, “Attack on @crpfindia personnel in Chhattisgarh is cowardly & deplorable. We are monitoring the situation closely.”
“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.
Minister of State for Home Affairs Hansraj Ahir will visit Chhattisgarh on Tuesday to take stock of the situation.
“It’s a major tragedy, we will hit back with full intensity,” Vivekanand, Bastar IG, told reporters in Sukma soon after visiting the encounter site.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh, who was in New Delhi, cancelled his all engagements in the national Capital and returned to Raipur.
The CM held emergency meetings with top officials to re-strategise his Government’s move to choke Naxal movement which has shown enough signs of revival in recent months.
“The entire Chhattisgarh is pained by CRPF men’s killings. I sympathise with families of martyred cops. Maoists are feeling a lot of heat in their bastion Sukma with increased presence of police and para-military,’’ visibly looking shocked Singh told reporters at Raipur airport just after reaching from Delhi.
He brushed aside reports of Intelligence failure which led to Sukma killings and added, “It’s premature to make a comment on it.”
The CM hinted of unleashing a full-blown offensive against Maoists in entire Bastar mainly in Sukma district. He advised security personnel in Bastar to be more cautious and alert as Maoists could engineer more such brutal attacks in a bid to retain its fast losing hold.
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 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.