MAOIST AMBUSH: 7 JAWANS DEAD, 10 INJURED IN CHHATTISGARH

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.

It was 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 (anti-Maoist 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 Dornapal-Chintafuga area of Sukma, where several killings have taken place in the past. The encounter continued for an hour-and-a-half.

Unconfirmed report said the attack was carried out by over 150 Maoists who looted the arms of the dead policemen.

The i njured j awans t old mediapersons that the 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.