It's Dantewada again: 10 cops, driver killed in Naxal attack

Ten personnel of the District Reserve Guard (DRG) and one driver have been killed on Wednesday when a pressure improvised explosive device (IED) planted by Naxalites went off in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district.

According to reports, the incident took place near Aranpur district during an anti-naxal operation that was launched after intelligence inputs.

Visuals from ANI showed a huge crater splitting the road wide open. Bodies covered with plastic sheets, and also vehicle parts were seen strewn along.

#WATCH | Visuals from the spot in Dantewada where 10 DRG jawans and one civilian driver lost their lives in an IED attack by naxals. #Chhattisgarh pic.twitter.com/GD8JJIbEt2

— ANI (@ANI) April 26, 2023

The area is located around 450 km from state capital Raipur. Naxalites blew up the mini-goods van in which the security personnel were travelling by using an Improvised Explosive Device (IED), police sources told news agency PTI.

IED attack by naxals in Dantewada | Names of the DRG jawans who lost their lives in the IED attack

One driver named Dhaniram Yadav also lost his life in the attack. pic.twitter.com/YbelrAtaGX

— ANI (@ANI) April 26, 2023

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said the blast was caused by an improvised explosive device (IED). He said the team of the District Reserve Guard (DRG) was on an anti-naxal operation in the area.

#WATCH | On reports of an IED attack by naxals on security personnel in Dantewada, claiming the lives of 11 personnel, Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel says, "There is such information with us. It is very saddening. My condolences to the bereaved families. This fight is in its last… https://t.co/n1YV67sIoi pic.twitter.com/CC8Dj0uAca

— ANI (@ANI) April 26, 2023

"The news of the martyrdom of our 10 DRGsecurity personnel and a driver due to IED blast on the DRG force which had arrived for anti-Naxal operation on the information of the presence of Maoist cadre under Aranpur police station area of Dantewada is very sad. The people of the state pay our respects to them. We all share in the grief of their families. May their souls rest in peace," he tweeted.

दंतेवाड़ा के थाना अरनपुर क्षेत्र अंतर्गत माओवादी कैडर की उपस्थिति की सूचना पर नक्सल विरोधी अभियान के लिए पहुंचे डीआरजी बल पर आईईडी विस्फोट से हमारे 10 डीआरजी जवान एवं एक चालक के शहीद होने का समाचार बेहद दुखद है।

हम सब प्रदेशवासी उन्हें अपनी श्रद्धांजलि अर्पित करते हैं। उनके…

— Bhupesh Baghel (@bhupeshbaghel) April 26, 2023

Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has assured all help to Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel. In a phone call with Chattisgarh Chief Minister, Bhupesh Baghel, Shah took stock of the situation and assured him that all possible help will be extended to the state.