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Naxals ambush security team in Chhattisgarh; 15 jawans, 1 civilian killed

By FnF Correspondent | PUBLISHED: 11, Mar 2014, 14:35 pm IST | UPDATED: 11, Mar 2014, 18:48 pm IST

Naxals ambush security team in Chhattisgarh; 15 jawans, 1 civilian killed Raipur: Naxals on Tuesday carried out a major attack in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district, killing at least 15 security personnel and one civilian.

Of the 15 jawans killed, 11 were from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and four from the state police. The toll was less than the 20 earlier reported.

"11 CRPF personnel and four state policemen were killed. Inspector Subhash of CRPF was leading the squad and he has also been killed," DIG (SIB) of Chhattisgarh police Dipanshu Kabra told reporters. A civilian was also killed in the attack, he said, adding three people have been injured.

An assistant commandant rank officer of CRPF is also believed to be among the victims, sources said.

The attack took place at 10:15 am in a dense forest at 'Jeerum Nullah', 400 km from here, when a team of 44 joint security forces personnel – 30 from CRPF and 14 from state police - was ambushed.

Naxals opened heavy fire and triggered landmine blasts while the team was out for an operational task in the jungles of Tongapal, close to the Dantewada and 'Jeerum Ghati' axis, notorious for Naxal violence.

Kabra had said that “officials on the spot say some Naxals may also have been killed in firing”, but the same could not be confirmed.

A manhunt has been launched to nab the attackers who escaped in the thick jungles.

Chhattisgarh Police ADG (Intelligence) Mukesh Gupta informed that a joint team of CRPF and state police was attacked by a large group of Naxals numbering close to 100.

Following the attack, an encounter broke out between the security team and Maoists. Reinforcements were also sent to the spot, which was reported to be 'heavily mined'.

"The area is heavily mined and hence reinforcements are treading cautiously," CRPF Inspector General (Operations) in Delhi Zulfiquar Hasan told PTI.

Sources said two IAF helicopters were also sent in from Jagdalpur and Raipur to the ambush area with reinforcements drawn from the CoBRA battalion and CRPF.

Police sources said the deaths of the security men were caused due to bullet injuries.

Reacting to the attack, Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said, “We will take the Maoists head on.”

State Chief Minister Raman Singh called an emergency meeting of the Chief Secretary, ACS Home, DGP and other high ranking officers to asses the situation.

The jawans of CRPF belong to its 80th battalion which is deployed for anti-Naxal operations in the state.

The state police is suspecting that a group of Naxals who may have crossed into Chhattisgarh from Odisha could be behind the deadly attack.

The incident took place in the same area where Naxalites had killed 76 police personnel in April 2010.
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