In what could be the biggest Naxal attack after the Narendra Modi-led government assumed power at the Centre, as many as 25 CRPF personnel were martyred, seven injured and seven others missing as Maoists wreaked terror in its hotbed of Sukma in Kala Pathar near Chintangufa in Chattisgarh.
An injured soldier being shifted to hospital
On Monday morning, an armed contingent of the CPI(Maoist) launched a massive attack on a CRPF team deployed for road opening exercise to provide security to road construction activities. The encounter between 74 Battalion of CRPF and Naxals started around 12.30 pm at Kala Pathar near Chintagufa, which has traditionally been a Naxal den.
The fire exchange went on for some time. Initially bodies of 11 CRPF personnel were recovered and later head constable Ram Mehar succumbed to injuries taking the toll to 12.
But as news flowed to New Delhi where Home Minister Rajnath Singh and his entire top brass were taking stock of the ongoing gun battle that is still continuing, the tragic news came in that 12 more bodies have been recovered. Later one more soldiers succumbed to injuries taking the toll to 25. Seven others are learnt to be missing.
The injured personnel have been evacuated by helicopter to Jagdalpur and Raipur to Ram Krishna hospital. It was a tragic day for the forces as mortal remains of six personnel reached Burkapal camp.
CoBRA teams of the CRPF have reached and conducting search operations, top officials revealed saying that a gun battle is continuing between the Maoists and the security forces.
Even as the anti-naxal operations are on and evacuation process is going on, Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi has called a meeting at North Block with top officials of the Naxal division. The CRPF is giving a detailed ground report to the MHA. The situation is being monitored at the highest level in the government. Minister of State for Home Hansraj Ahir, Acting DG CRPF Sudeep Lakhtakia and top officials will land in Sukma on Tuesday.
Incidentally, the CRPF does not have a full time DG to head the largest paramilitary force after K. Durga Prasad retired February end. Lakhtakia is acting DG of CRPF as the Appointment Committee of Cabinet under M.R. Modi has yet to finalise the name for the new CRPF chief.
"It is at this time of the year, before the monsoon sets it, that the Naxals PLGA becomes active and plans a big strike. Once the monsoons set in, the terrain is not suitable for any massive operations," an official said adding that a probe will be conducted to look into the entire incident. For now, the minute by minute handling of the situation is the priority of both the central and state government.
The CRPF party was ambushed by a group of about 300-400 Maoist cadres at Kalapattar near Burkapal, according to CRPF.
Two companies (approximately 200 personnel) of 74 Battalion of CRPF were deployed to provide security for the road constructions in the area connecting Burkapal to Chintagufa in Sukma district, official sources said .
The CRPF troops replied in a befitting manner. But by taking advantage of their geographical position, Maoists succeeded in inflicting loss to CRPF.
The deceased have been identified as Inspector/GD Raghubir Singh, SI/GD K.K. Das, ASI/GD Sanjay Kumar, ASI/GD Rameswar Lal, ASI/GD Naresh Kumar, HC/RO Surender Kumar, HC/RO Banna Ram, HC/GD L.P. Singh, HC/GD Naresh Yadav, HC/GD Padmanabhan, CT/GD Saurabh Kumar, CT/GD Abhay Mishra, CT/GD Banmali Ram, CT/GD N.P. Sonkar, CT/GD K.K. Pandey, CT/GD Vinay Chandra Burman, CT/GD P. Alagupandi, CT/GD Abhay Kumar, CT/GD N. Senthil Kumar, CT/GD N. Thirumurgan, CT/GD Ranjit Kumar, CT/GD Ashish Singh, CT/GD Manoj Kumar, CT/GD Anup Karmakar, HC/GD Ram Mehar (at Raipur).
