Sukma attack | Considerable number of Naxals killed in retaliatory action by CRPF, CM calls emergency meeting

The paramilitary force on Monday claimed that a considerable number of Maoists are believed to have been killed in retaliatory action by CRPF men after an attack on them in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district, though nobody has been recovered yet.

The force in a statement said about 300 to 400 Naxals “ambushed” its patrol party killing 25 personnel and injuring six others in Sukma district. It said two companies of the 74th battalion were out on operation to provide security to people engaged in constructing a road to connect Burkapal to Chintagufa in the area.

There were 99 personnel out on the operation. A CRPF company has strength of about 100 personnel. It said the ensuing gun battle was “fierce”. The CRPF troops replied in a befitting manner but taking advantage of their geographical position, Maoists succeeded in inflicting loss on the force.

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“Twenty-four brave soldiers were martyred and one succumbed to his injuries while being evacuated to a hospital in Raipur,” the statement read. The party was ambushed by a group of about “300-400 Maoist cadres at 12:30 PM at Kalapattar near Burkapal.

“A considerable number of Maoists are believed to have been eliminated (in retaliatory action by CRPF men) as the tell-tale sign indicate from the ground,” it added. The bodies of all jawans, it said, have been airlifted to Raipur, while the six injured have been admitted to a hospital in the state capital.

CRPF Director General (acting) Sudeep Lakhtakia and senior officials of the operations directorate of the force are expected to visit the site on Tuesday to “take stock of the situation.”

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and his junior colleague in the ministry Hansraj G Ahir are also expected to travel to Raipur on Tuesday and pay tributes to the dead and hold a meeting with the top security brass of the state and paramilitary forces deployed there.

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CM Raman Singh calls emergency meeting in Raipur

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh on Monday held an emergency meeting after 25 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel lost their lives in a Naxal attack in the state’s Sukma district.

The meeting was held at the chief minister’s official residence here with senior administrative and police officials in attendance, a Public Relation Officer of the CMO told PTI.

The CM took details of the incident and also took stock of the situation in the wake of the attack. He directed the officials to make every necessary arrangement so that the bodies of martyred troopers will reach to their native places as early as possible, according to the officer.

Singh also directed to provide best possible medical assistance to the injured personnel admitted in the two hospitals in Raipur. At least 25 CRPF personnel were killed near Burkapal village under Chintagufa police station area of Sukma this afternoon after Maoists ambushed a patrolling team of the paramilitary forces.

The Chief Minister, who was on an official tour in Delhi on Monday, immediately cancelled his engagements after coming to know about the incident and arrived in Raipur by the evening flight.

From the airport, he directly went to the hospitals where the injured personnel were admitted, before chairing the top-level meeting. The CM has expressed his condolence to the bereaved families.

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