New Delhi: 10 policemen and a civilian were killed in a Maoist attack in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada. Officials gave this information on Wednesday. According to officials, the Maoists blew up the mini goods van in which a team of District Reserve Guard (DRG) of Chhattisgarh Police was traveling using an Improvised Explosive Device (IED).
The Maoist attack took place under Aranpur police station area when the security personnel were returning after an anti-Naxal operation.
#Watch , Visuals from the spot in Dantewada where 10 DRG jawans and a civilian driver lost their lives in an IED attack by Naxals. #Chhattisgarh pic.twitter.com/GD8JJIbEt2– ANI (@ANI) April 26, 2023
Reacting to the Dantewada attack, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said it was “very sad” and the Naxals would not be “spared”.
Bhupesh Baghel told reporters, “It is very sad. My condolences to the bereaved families. This fight is in its final stage. Naxalites will not be spared.”
#Watch , Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on the news of loss of life of 11 jawans in IED attack on security personnel by Maoists in Dantewada said, ‘We have such information. This is very sad. My condolences to the bereaved families. In its last… https://t.co/n1YV67sIoi pic.twitter.com/CC8Dj0uAca– ANI (@ANI) April 26, 2023
Amit Shah ‘suffered’ by ‘cowardly’ Naxal attack in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada
Union Home Minister Amit Shah said he was “pained” by the “cowardly” Naxal attack on the Chhattisgarh police in Dantewada. He said that he spoke to Bhupesh Baghel and assured all possible help.
In a tweet, Amit Shah said, “Pained by the cowardly attack on Chhattisgarh Police in Dantewada. Spoke to the Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh and assured all possible help to the state government. My condolences to the bereaved families of the martyred jawans.” ”
Shocked by the cowardly attack on the Chhattisgarh Police in Dantewada. Have spoken to the Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh and assured all possible help to the state government. My condolences to the bereaved families of the martyred soldiers. — Amit Shah (@AmitShah) April 26, 2023
Earlier this month, four Naxals were arrested in Dantewada district, allegedly involved in the murder of a former village head. Dantewada Superintendent of Police Siddharth Tiwari told that the DRG had caught him on April 4 during an anti-Naxal operation from a weekly fair in Tumrigunda village under Barsoor police station area.
The police officer said the arrested low-level Naxal cadres were active as local organization squad (LOS) and militia members under the Indravati Area Committee of the banned CPI (Maoist).
He said they were allegedly involved in the murder of a former sarpanch of Himameta village this year and other violent incidents in the area.
Last week, a Maoist was also killed in an encounter with security personnel in a forest in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district. Two Maoists were also arrested after the encounter, one of whom is injured.
Bijapur Superintendent of Police Anjaneya Varshney said the gunfight took place on April 18 near Kachalwari village under Naimed police station area, about 400 km from state capital Raipur, when a team of the District Reserve Guard was on a search operation.
He said that on information about the presence of senior leaders of Bhairamgarh Area Committee of Maoists, the security personnel had started patrolling from Reddy camp.
“After the firing ceased, the body of a male Maoist was recovered from the spot. Besides, two Maoists, one of whom is in an injured condition, have been surrounded,” the official said.