9 CRPF men killed in Naxal attack in Chhattisgarh

Raipur/New Delhi, March 13

Nine CRPF personnel were on Tuesday killed after suspected Naxals blew up their mine-protected vehicle in Chhattisgarh's Sukma, around a year after a dozen jawans were killed in a similar ambush in the district.

Officials said the incident took place around 12:30 pm along the Kistaram-Palodi road of the district when the troops of the 212th battalion of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were out on an operation.

At least nine men have been killed, while two other jawans suffered injuries after the mine-protected vehicle was blown up by multiple improvised explosive devices (IEDs) concealed under the dirt track, a senior official said.

The injured personnel are being airlifted to Raipur, they said.

The rebels used a lot of explosives to blow up the vehicle, a state police official said.

Soon after the incident, reinforcements were rushed to the spot, around 500 km from state capital Raipur, he said, adding further details were awaited.

Officials added that the first encounter between the two sides took place at 8 am and later this contingent was targeted by the Maoists.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh condemned the attack and described the incident as "deeply distressing".

Singh was here to unveil a statue of martyr Udham Singh at Jallianwala Bagh.

“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.

"My heartfelt condolences to the families of those personnel who lost their lives in Sukma blast. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured jawans. I spoke to DG @crpfindia regarding the Sukma incident and asked him to leave for Chhattisgarh," he tweeted.

Twelve personnel of the force were killed on March 11 last year in the Bheji area of the district and their arms looted, when Naxals ambushed their patrol party.

A few days later on April 24, 25 personnel of the paramilitary were killed in a similar ambush in Sukma. PTI