Maoists ambushed CRPF Convoy in Chattisgarh, 75 security personnel killed
merisarkar news service
New Delhi, April 06, 2010
75 killed in a series of Maoist attacks on CRPF Convoy
By killing 74 CRPF men and a head constable of state police force in an ambush in Chattisgarh on Tuesday once again Maoists have demonstrated that they have got the upper hand in their mortal combat with Indian Security Forces.
They ambushed a team of 80 CRPF personnel in thick Mukrana forest of Dantewada district in the state killing 75 of them.
Officials say, this unit belonging to 68 Battalion of CRPF entered in the forest between 6 to 7 am in the morning and were ambushed by at least 1,000 Maoists.
This CRPF team was out to kill and capture the Maoists operating in the area. However, as it turned out they were outnumbered, outmaneuvered by Maoists and in a hopeless gun fight 73 of them were killed on the spot and two died later taking the death toll to 75.
It is one of the deadliest attacks in the history of anti naxal operations.
RK Vij, IG Chattisgarh police told reporters, “The bodies of 73 CRPF men have been recovered from the attack site.”
In New Delhi, CRPF Director General, Vikram Srivastava said, "It is very tragic and sad."
Home Minister P. Chidambaram said in New Delhi that something must have gone ‘drastically wrong.’
"The casualty is very high and I am deeply shocked at the loss of lives....This shows the savage nature of CPI (Maoist) and the brutality and the savagery they are capable of," Home Minister said.
Special Director General of CRPF, Vijay Raman, who is also the Commander of the Anti-Naxal Task Force, is on way to the forest area.
Just two days ago Maoists have killed 11 members of the elite anti naxal force of Orissa police in land mine blast in Koraput district of the state.
On 15th February, 24 personnel of Eastern Frontier Rifles were killed in a Maoist attack on their camp in West Bengal's West Midnapore district.
