New Delhi: In a major Maoist attack, at least 22 security personnel were killed in Saturday’s deadly Maoist ambush in the forests of the restive Bijapur district in the tribal Bastar region of Chhattisgarh, India.
On Sunday, when reinforcements reached the encounter site on Sunday, police found injured jawans, who tried to take refuge in abandoned huts, had run into Maoists lying in wait for this. Wounded troops were stabbed, shot and hacked to death.
A fierce battle raged in the jungles of Bijapur district for hours on Saturday.
Director-General of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Kuldiep Singh, who is in Chhattisgarh to monitor the situation following the attack, on Sunday said that there was absolutely no intelligence or operational failure in the operation.
President Ramnath Kovind, PM Narendra Modi, Union home minister Amit Shah, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, CM Baghel and Sahu have expressed deep condolences.
PM Modi tweeted: “My thoughts are with the families of those martyred while fighting Maoists in Chhattisgarh. The sacrifices of the brave martyrs will never be forgotten. May the injured recover at the earliest.”
“I bow to the sacrifices of our brave security personnel. We will continue our fight against these enemies of peace and progress,” Shah tweeted, assuring all support to the state in battling the Maoist menace. CM Baghel said the morale of security personnel in Bastar is high. “We will win the fight against Naxalites,” he said.
Taiwan on Monday condoled the killings of Indian security personnel in the Naxal ambush in Chhattisgarh and prayed for the recovery of the injured.
“Our deepest condolences on the loss of life and injuries in the Chhatisgarh ambush. Thoughts and prayers to the families of the victims, and heartfelt wishes for a speedy recovery to the wounded. Taiwan stands with India and supports its national integrity,” tweeted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ROC (Taiwan).
This is the second major attack since March 24 when Maoists blew up a bus carrying security personnel, killing five policemen and injuring 13 in neighbouring Narayanpur district.