'Will remember their sacrifice': PM Modi on Naxal attack in Dantewada

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday strongly condemned the Naxal attack in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada which killed 10 policemen and a driver.

PM Modi expressed his condolence to the families of those killed in the incident and said the "sacrifice" of the policemen "will always be remembered".

"Strongly condemn the attack on the Chhattisgarh police in Dantewada. I pay my tributes to the brave personnel we lost in the attack. Their sacrifice will always be remembered. My condolences to the bereaved families," PM Modi tweeted.

The preliminary investigations have found that the bomb used by the Naxalites in Chhattisgarh weighed 50 kilograms. It is described as one of the deadliest attacks in recent times.

The incident occurred when the police personnel were travelling in a rented mini-van and the explosion was so powerful that the vehicle was flung by at least 20 feet. The team was returning after an anti-Naxalite operation, a senior official told PTI.

Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has spoken to Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and assured all possible help to the state government.

"Anguished by the cowardly attack on the Chhattisgarh police at Dantewada. Have spoken to Chhattisgarh's Chief Minister and assured all possible assistance to the state government. My condolences to the bereaved family members of the martyred jawans," Shah tweeted.

The Chhattisgarh's Chief Minister said that the Dantewada incident is "heart-rending" and their sacrifice will not go to waste. "Pressure is being created on Naxals, so they did this cowardice. Naxalism will be uprooted. I spoke with HM Amit Shah and Mallikarjun Kharge," he told ANI.

On his turn, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge called the incident a cowardly act.

"The martyrdom of our 10 DRG (District Reserve Guard) jawans and a driver in a cowardly attack in an anti-Naxal operation in Dantewada, Chhattisgarh is deeply saddening. Humble tributes to the bravehearts. We are with the bereaved families," he said in a tweet in Hindi.

"The fight against Naxalism in Chhattisgarh is in its last phase and our government will win in it," he added.