17 jawans killed in Maoist attack

In one of the deadliest assaults on security personnel in Chhattisgarh in the past two years, Maoists late on Saturday evening ambushed a joint search party in Elmagunda in south Bastar district of Sukma, killing 17 jawans and injuring 15 others.

“Bodies of 17 jawans were recovered at the encounter site on Sunday afternoon,” a senior police officer posted in Bastar told this newspaper.

Of the 17 slain jawans, 12 were from district reserve group (DRG), an anti-Naxal tribal force raised by Chhattisgarh police, and five were from Special Task Force (STF), counterinsurgency wing of Chhattisgarh police.

This was the biggest casualty faced by the DRG which comprised surrendered Naxals and local tribals, in counterinsurgency in Bastar so far.

At least 15 security personnel were also injured in the incident. They were airlifted to Raipur in Chhattisgarh for treatment. Conditions of two of them were stated to be critical.

Bastar range inspector general of police (IG) P. Sunderraj confirmed the incident.

According to a senior police officer posted in Bastar, a joint search party comprising personnel of district reserve group (DRG), special task force (STF) and 206 COBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action) was dispatched to Kasalpad area, a Maoiststronghold, following intelligence inputs on gathering a large number of ultras in the jungle

Maoists laid an ambush for the counterinsurgency forces at a strategic point at the foothill of Kasapad when the latter were returning to their respective base camps after conducting search operations.

“Maoists who had positioned them at hilltop opened fire on the security personnel when the latter reached the plain area, reducing them to sitting ducks. Reinforcement rushed from nearby Burkhapal evacuated 15 injured jawans who were later airlifted to Raipur for treatment. However, bodies of 17 jawans could be recovered only after 20 hours on Sunday afternoon”, the police officer said requesting not to be quoted. Maoists also took away 16 weapons including 12 AK 47 assault rifles and one Under Barrel Grenade Launcher (UBGL) from the slain jawans, police said.

The encounter site is close to Chintalnar where

76 CRPF jawans were killed by Maoists on April

6, 2010.

The region, considered headquarters of Maoists’ battalion number one, has been declared liberated zone by the ultras.