New Delhi: Ten jawans of the District Reserve Guard (DRG) and a civilian were killed when the vehicle they were travelling in was destroyed by an improvised explosive device (IED) triggered by Maoists in the Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh on Wednesday, April 26.
The jawans were returning from an anti-Maoist operation that was launched following intelligence inputs, according to the news agency PTI. The DRG is a special force comprised mainly of members of tribal communities who have been trained to combat Maoists.
This is the worst Naxal attack in Chhattisgarh since April 2021, when 22 police and paramilitary personnel were killed and several more injured during a gunfight with Maoists at the Sukma and Bijapur district borders.
The incident occurred under the jurisdiction of the Aranpur police station. TV footage from a local news channel showed the road split open by a large crater and scattered with vehicle parts and bodies covered with plastic sheets. The attack happened about 450 km from the state capital Raipur.
Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel, expressing condolences, said Naxalism will soon be uprooted in the state.
#WATCH | Chhattisgarh CM says, “Dantewada incident is heart-rending. My condolences to their families. Their sacrifice won’t go to waste. Pressure is being created on naxals, so they did this cowardice. Naxalism will be uprooted. I spoke with HM Amit Shah & Mallikarjun Kharge” pic.twitter.com/EHdk0KSY8Z
— ANI (@ANI) April 26, 2023
Union home minister Amit Shah said he spoke to Baghel about the attack. “Anguished by the cowardly attack on the Chhattisgarh police at Dantewada. Have spoken to Chhattisgarh’s Chief Minister and assured all possible assistance to the state government. My condolences to the bereaved family members of the martyred Jawans,” Shah tweeted.
Several other leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi condemned the attack.
“Ten DRG jawans and one civilian driver lost their lives in the attack. Their bodies are being evacuated from the spot. Senior officers are present at the spot,” said P. Sundarraj, the inspector general of Bastar, told PTI.
“Reinforcements of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and DRG have been sent to the spot. Search operations are underway and senior officials are at the spot. The process of removing bodies of the slain personnel is underway,” he added.