Naxals Attack CRPF Patrol Party in Dantewada, 70 Jawans Killed
As many as 70 CRPF personnel have been killed in a fierce attack launched by Naxalites in Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh, said media reports.
According to reports, the attack occurred between 6 to 7 am when a CRPF patrol party was on its way back from a road opening duty in the naxalite-infested Mukrana forest in the district.
“We have rushed helicopters to evacuate the casualties,” Chhattisgarh DGP Viswa Ranjan was quoted as saying by PTI.
Reports said that many personnel were severely wounded in the attack and toll is likely to go up.
The CRPF patrol party was totally started as rebels suddenly surfaced at a hillock to carry out the strike, said reports.
Dantewada Superintendent of Police Amresh Mishra said that the vehicle carrying CRPF personnel were blown by the Naxals, reported PTI.
He said that the incident took place in the early hours near Chintalnar -Tarmetla village in the district when rebels attacked a joint team comprising personnel from CRPF, district forces and special police, he said.
Mishra said that the team had been camping in interiors of Tarmetla jungles for the last three days as part of a combing operation.
He said that four policemen were injured in the explosion and extra security forces were rushed to the spot, reports said.
Reports said that the landmine had exploded in Tanginiguda area when a van carrying jawans of the elite anti-Naxalite Special Operation Group (SOG) was returning from an operation in adjacent Malkangiri district.
(Based on internet reports)
