Memorial dedicated to 25 CRPF personnel killed in Maoist ambush 9 years ago comes up in Sukma

Sukma, Apr 24 (PTI) The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) on Friday inaugurated a memorial built in honour of its 25 personnel killed in a 2017 Maoist ambush in Sukma district of Chhattisgarh and asserted that their ultimate sacrifice helped free the state from the Naxal menace.
CRPF Deputy Inspector General (Sukma) Anand Rajpurohit dedicated the memorial at the headquarters of the central force's 74th battalion at Dornapal in the district.
In one of the deadliest attacks on security forces in the history of insurgency, 25 personnel, belonging to the CRPF's 74th battalion, were killed on April 24, 2017, when Maoists ambushed them in Burkapal under Chintagufa police station limits while they were providing security for road construction work.
DIG Rajpurohit said sacrifices of the fallen jawans symbolise their unwavering commitment to the unity, integrity and security of the nation.
"On April 24, we remember our brave colleagues who laid down their lives while ensuring security for development works. Their courage and dedication continue to inspire future generations," he declared.
"It is due to their sacrifice that Chhattisgarh has become Maoist free. We once again pay tribute to them," the IPS officer stated.
The memorial was formally inaugurated with rituals and ceremonies, followed by a guard of honour by officers and personnel of the CRPF. A two-minute silence was observed in memory of the fallen jawans.
The Baster region, where Sukma is located, had once witnessed intense Maoist activity, particularly during the construction of the Dornapal-Jagargunda road, which required heavy security deployment. Several security personnel had laid down their lives during the road construction, which was targeted by Naxals, said officials.
The sacrifices of these personnel have significantly contributed in improving security in the region. The memorial has been established to preserve the legacy, courage and supreme sacrifice of the fallen jawans, they said.
Commandant of the CRPF's 74th battalion Himanshu Pandey, officials and personnel of the 159th, 223rd and 226th battalions of the force were present at the dedication ceremony.
Notably, a similar memorial dedicated to 76 security personnel killed in a 2010 Maoist ambush in the Tadmetla area of Sukma district was inaugurated on April 6 this year.
Chhattisgarh, particularly the Bastar region, which grappled with Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) for over four decades, was declared free of armed Maoists on March 31, coinciding with the Centre's deadline to eliminate the menace from the country.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)