Maoists kill 9 CRPF men in Sukma
RAIPUR/NEW DELHI: Maoists ambushed and killed nine Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) troopers and injured three in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district on Tuesday, serving a chilling reminder that their annual tactical counteroffensive campaign (TCOC) against security forces is underway. The Cpi(maoist) conducts its TCOC against security personnel from March to June every year, trying to inflict maximum damage during this period.
The troopers were travelling from Kistaram to Palodi camp in Sukma when they came under attack. Sukma SP Abhishek Meena had passed by the spot of the attack just before it happened, although it isn’t clear whether he was the target.
According to CRPF chief RR Bhatnagar, who has reached Chhattisgarh to take stock of the situation, the SP was to visit the forward camp at Palodi. “Around half a dozen advance parties of the CRPF’S COBRA units on foot and motorcycle had gone ahead; Maoists tried to ambush some of these parties but they ran away after return of fire at around 8am,” he said.
The SP’S convoy, which passed by the same area at 12.30pm, included two Mine Protected Vehicles or MPVS. The first passed unscathed; the second, carrying the troopers, was attacked. “The MPV that was carrying troopers coming back from leave was targeted at 12.30pm with a powerful landmine blast which ripped the vehicle apart,” said Bhatnagar.
“The quantity of explosives used in the blast and whether the troopers travelling in the MPV had tied seat belts, which could have helped them to withstand the impact of blast, is a matter of investigation,” added Bhatnagar.
CRPF officials admit the MPV’S usefulness is limited in Maoist areas where insurgents use IEDS with explosives up to 70-80 kg. “We have around 300 MPVS deployed in Maoists areas, J&K and North-eastern states. Most of them are manufactured at the Jabalpur factory,” said a CRPF official.