C'garh forest heavily mined by Maoists: Police

Raipur, May 9: In the wake of the Maoists attack on CRPF, a top police official said that the state's forest areas were heavily mined by the rebels and it was difficult to de-mine the vast area.

"The big problem is we have no technology and resources to de-mine the massive forested pockets. Without taking out landmines it's literally impossible to go after them freely in thickly forested areas where Maoists are always ready with a booby trap," Director General of Police (Chhattisgarh) Vishwa Ranjan said Sunday, May 9.

The statement by Rajan came a day after the eight CRPF personnel were killed when the Naxals blew up their bullet-proof vehicle in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district.

Referring to the Dantewada massacre, in which 76 security personnel were killed and the recent Bijapur attack, Ranjan said that both the blasts occured in the same place.

A police officer, who sought anonymity, said that the morale of security force have been badly shaken by the attacks.

"I admit that forces in the Bastar interiors have gone defensive. Neither the state police nor the paramilitary forces are ready with heart and mind to go after the Maoists in thickly forested areas that are heavily mined," the officer said.

OneIndia News