9 CRPF Men Killed As Maoists Blow Up Armoured Vehicle In Chhattisgarh

Nine personnel of the Central Police Reserve Force have died after Maoists blew up a mine protection vehicle or MPV, in Sukma district of Chhattisgarh. Four CRPF personnel have also been injured in the attack. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, tweeted the Maoist attack is "deeply distressing."

Today’s IED blast in Sukma, Chhattisgarh is deeply distressing. I bow to each and every security personnel who attained martyrdom while serving the nation.

- Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) March 13, 2018

Around 8 am this morning, an encounter started between the elite Cobra forces, specially trained to tackle Maoist insurgency, in Kistaram area of Sukma, where an anti-Naxal operation was already going on.

"A CRPF patrolling party was on its way from Kistaram to Palodi, in an anti-landmine vehicle, which was targeted by Maoists," said DM Awasthi, Special Director general, Anti-Naxal Operations. More forces have reached the spot. The Director-General CRPF, Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar, has left for Chhattisgarh.

 The injured CRPF personnel have been evacuated in a helicopter to Raipur. Earlier in the day, Maoists had staged a similar attack but they fled after CRPF forces retaliated.

Comments

There has been a spurt in Maoist attacks this year. On February 18, two policemen and a civilian were killed in a gunfight with Maoists at Bhejji in Sukma.