153 policemen killed in naxal attacks

Jagdalpur, Aug 31 (UNI) Mounting hostilities between Maoist naxals and security forces in Chhattisgarh's Bastar region have claimed nearly 300 lives this year with the death of 12 police personnel in naxal attack near Jagargunda in Dantewada district on Wednesday.

As many as 153 police personnel, 92 villagers and 52 naxalites were killed in the last eight months, police sources said today.

Twelve police officers were among those killed.

While the police suffered heavy casualties, the ultras looted a large number of weapons- 116 rifles, including 23 AK 47- during encounters and attack on police camps.

A new dimension to the casualties was that either the tribals mobilised to join in the anti-naxal movement 'Salwa Judum' or local youth recruited as Special Police Officer were becoming the target of naxal attacks.

Nearly 4,000 youth have been appointed as SPOs on a monthly honorarium of Rs 1500 to assist the security personnel in anti-naxal operations.

Jagargunda SHO Hemant Kumar, 3 Special Armed Force constables and 8 SPOs-all tribals- were killed in Wednesday's attack, the sources added.

A review of major incidents indicated that the ultras inflicted heavy casualties in major attacks every month in the past eight months.

Janary 6: 8 police personnel, including an Assistant Commandant, killed in landmine blast at Jharaghat in Narayanpur district.

February 8: Naga Armed Force Commandant Sarbato among 7 security personnel killed while defusing landmine at Bhairamgarh in Bijapur district.

March 15: 55 police personnel, including 39 SPOs, killed in naxal attack at Rani Bodli police camp in Bijapur district.

April 26: 5 policemen killed in landmine blast at Michgaon near Durg-Kondal in Kanker district.

May 28: 9 policemen killed in explosion at Kudur near Mardapal in Bastar district.

June 9: Three electricity towers blasted disrupting drinking water supply and electricity supply in entire Bastar region for ten days.

July 9: 15 CRPF personnel among 24 security personnel killed in naxal attack near Errabore in Dantewada district.

UNI XC-SP KV 1507 Official sources said that martyr police officials comprises five assistant sub-inspector, four assistant platoon commander, 65 crime security force assistant commandant and commandants of Naga batallion. Besides, naxalis also killed 92 Salwa Judum workers, who were supporting police.

Crime Security Force Assistant Commandant Vikas Chandra and Assistant Sub Inspctor Shiv Lochan Sahu and eight constables were martyred in a land mine blast on January 6.

A month before this incident seven people died, including Naga Batallion's Commandant Sarbarto and Sup Inspector Chandrakumar Markam, while diffusing land mines laid by naxals at Bhairamgarh police station are in Bijapur district. Also three assistant platoon commander Rajmal Soni, Ramsewak Singh and Mistaur Ekka and 55 police officials were killed in ultras attack on March 15 at Rani Bodali police camp.

However, an assistant sub inspector Najeer Baksh, including five police officials, were killed on 26 April at Michgaon in Durg Kondal police station area of Kanker district.

An assistant Veerendra Nawik and nine police officials were killed on 28 May at Kudur village in Mardapal police station area of Bastar district.

While no damage occured to police when ultras exploded three power towers at Narayanpur on June 9 but it affected the power and water supply for many days.

Extrimists attacked police party and killed 24 constables, including 15 constables of Reserve police force, at Dharuguda hillocks near Aribara on July 9.

UNI