25 jawans martyred after 300 naxals attack CRPF team in Chhattisgarh

The jawans who lost their lives were from the 74th battalion of the CRPF.

Twenty five CRPF personnel have lost their lives in an encounter with 300 naxalites in Chhattisgarh. An encounter had broken out with the naxalites at Sukma in Chhattisgarh after the patrolling party of the CRPF was fired upon.

25 personnel were seriously injured in the attack. However they breathed their last at hospital. Six more jawans are being treated for injuries at a hospital in Raipur.

A chopper was sent to the spot to evacuate the injured. Reinforcement parties from the nearest CRPF camp too were sent to the spot.

The encounter took place between the Burkapal-Chintagufa area at around 12.25 pm on Monday. This area is the worst hit by naxalites. The jawans who lost their lives were from the 74th battalion of the CRPF. All the weapons, wireless and ammunition belonging to the jawans were looted by the naxalites.

In a second attack, three CRPF personnel were injured by Maoists in Daltonganj, Jharkhand.

It may be recalled that 12 CRPF personnel had been killed earlier this year in the same area in an encounter with the naxalites.

Following the incident, a high-level meeting has been called for. The meeting has been called by the Home Secretary and several other officials would also attend. The meeting would immediately take stock of the situation. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh toon has called for an emergency meeting following the attack. Meanwhile Minister of State Ahir Singh will visit Raipur to take stock of the situation. A high-alert has been declared in Chhattisgarh.

Condolences pour in

Pranab Mukherjee on Monday strongly condemned the attack on CRPF personnel in Chattisgarh. He also offered condolences to families of deceased and prayers for the injured.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the attack on CRPF personnel in Chhattisgarh is cowardly & deplorable. ''We are monitoring the situation closely. We are proud of the valour of our CRPF personnel. Sacrifice of martyrs will not go in vain. Condolences to their families,'' Modi said.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh expressed deep pain over the killing of 25 CRPF personnel in Sukma district of Chattisgarh.

''Extremely pained to know about killing of CRPF personnel in Sukma. My tributes to the martyrs & condolences to their families,'' he said.

The home minister also asked MoS Home Hansraj Ahir about attack in Sukma and also said that he is going to Chhattisgarh to take stock of the situation.

Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Venkaiah Naidu took to Twitter to say: "Deeply pained over the loss of our Bravehearts at Sukma. These sacrifices shall not be in vain. Maoists indulging in mindless killing. My deep condolences to the bereaved families. RIP..."

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi expressed sincere condolences to families of CRPF personnel martyred in the attack in Sukma. ''We salute sacrifice & courage of our bravehearts,'' he said.

OneIndia News