7 cops killed, ten injured in Chhattisgarh Maoist ambush
BASTAR/RAIPUR: Seven policemen of Chhattisgarh’s special task force were killed and 10 injured in an ambush by Maoists in the hilly terrain of south Bastar’s Sukma district, some 450 km from Raipur, on Saturday, in what is being described as one of the worst attacks by rebels in recent months. Following the encounter, two personnel are reportedly missing.
“We lost seven jawans of the special task force (STF). The seriously injured jawans were airlifted to Raipur for immediate medical attention,” additional DGP (antiMaoist operation) RK Vij said.
The security forces retaliated but there was no report of casualties among the rebels. A team of around 60 STF personnel was out on area search operation following a tip-off when they came under attack. According to officials, the gunfight broke out at around 10 am in the south axis of DornapalChintafuga area of Sukma, where several killings have taken place in the past. The encounter continued for an hour-and-a-half.
Unconfirmed reports said the attack was carried out by over 150 Maoists who also looted the arms of the dead policemen.
The injured jawans told mediapersons that indiscriminate firing by the Maoists gave little scope for the troopers to take positions, resulting in seven deaths and injuring at least ten. Reinforcement was sent to the area to assist the police. Chief minister Raman Singh condemned the attacks.