Sukma: 25 jawans were killed and six injured in an ambush in the Burkapal area of Sukma on Monday afternoon, officials said.
Senior police officers said the surprise attack took place after personnel from the 74th Battalion of CRPF had emerged from their camp to secure an under-construction road in a Maoist stronghold in south Sukma.
Drenching roots of the nation with their blood 25 heroes inspired by the motto of #NationFirst made supreme devotion to our motherland. pic.twitter.com/5To465Vdz4
— 🇮🇳CRPF🇮🇳 (@crpfindia) April 24, 2017
The attack took place more than a month after 13 CRPF jawans were killed in a similar trap on a road-opening party on the Injeram-Bhejji stretch, around 60 km from Monday’s ambush spot. Whereas 2010, 76 CRPF personnel were killed in Sukma in a Maoist attack.
Chhattisgarh Police and CRPF sources said that two companies — around 150 personnel — of the battalion were ambushed by around 300-400 Maoists at around 12.30 pm on the Dornapal-Jagargunda stretch, one kilometre from the Burkapal CRPF camp.
“The exchange of fire lasted for over two hours. Given the heavy gunfire, we could not ascertain the location of the entire CRPF party immediately,” said a police officer.
In a post on his official Twitter account, the President said: “Strongly condemn attack on CRPF personnel in Chhattisgarh; condolences to families of deceased and prayers for injured.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a post on his Twitter account wrote: “We are monitoring the situation closely. We are proud of the valour of our (CRPF) personnel. The sacrifice of the martyrs will not go in vain. Condolences to their families.”
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said he has spoken to his deputy Hansraj Ahir, who is expected to visit Chhatishgarh and review the security situation along with the DG of CRPF. “Extremely pained to know about the killing of CRPF personnel in Sukma. My tributes to the martyrs and condolences to their families,” Singh posted on Twitter.
Officials said that Singh has briefed Modi on the attack and is also likely to visit Chattishgarh on Tuesday.
Chief Minister Raman Singh, who was scheduled to return from Delhi on Tuesday, reached Raipur on Monday night to attend emergency meetings. Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi also held security reviews with senior officials and the CRPF.
According to officials, the Home Ministry has conveyed its unhappiness over the ground situation and that “no lessons were learnt” after the March 11 attack in Bhejji.
Officials said the ministry has also called for a review of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) since road-opening parties had been targeted earlier, too.
In preliminary reports submitted to the ministry, CRPF said that seven of its personnel were initially injured in exchange of fire with Maoists. By the time rescue teams reached the spot, they found the bodies of the personnel, with their weapons and wireless system missing.
“In a fierce gunbattle with Maoists, 25 brave soldiers of CRPF laid down their lives for the motherland. Two companies of 74 Bn CRPF were deployed to provide security for road construction in the area connecting Burkapal to Chintagufa in Sukma… The party was ambushed by a group of about 300-400 Maoist cadres at 1230 hrs at Kalapattar near Burkapal,” a CRPF statement said.
Sources said the CRPF men suffered heavy casualties as they were located at a disadvantageous position.
“The CRPF troops replied in a befitting manner but taking geographical position to their advantage, Maoists succeeded in inflicting losses on CRPF. Twenty-four brave soldiers (were) martyred at the battleground and one succumbed to his injuries while being evacuated to a hospital in Raipur,” the statement said.
Those killed at the spot were Inspector Raghubir Singh, sub-inspector KK Das, three assistant sub-inspectors, five head constables and fourteen constables. CRPF said that their bodies had been airlifted to Raipur and the injured admitted in Ramkrishna Hospital.
The force also claimed that it had inflicted casualties on Maoists. “A considerable number of Maoists are believed to have been eliminated as tell-tale signs indicate from the ground,” the statement said.
Senior CRPF officers, including the director general and inspector general (operations), have reached Raipur and will visit the encounter spot on Tuesday, sources said.
The road being built is a crucial 56-km stretch from Dornapal on NH 30 to Jagargunda, considered one of the most sensitive zones in the country. While an 8-km stretch from Dornapal to Gorgunda has been completed, the remaining 46-km stretch, being built by the Police Housing Corporation, is still under construction.
Over the last three years, road-building activity in this area has seen 11 exchanges of fire, 18 IED blasts, three civilian deaths in explosions, and the recovery of 16 IEDs.
Before this attack, seven security personnel were killed and 25 injured on this road over the last three years — there are five police stations and 15 CRPF camps at 11 places along the stretch.
In the aftermath of the Bhejji attack, police officers had said that the Maoists were desperate to halt road construction here, and were targeting them through IEDs and attacks.