NAXAL ATTACKS CHHATTISGARH
. A CRPF jawan who survived the Maoist massacre yesterday in Chhattisgarh's Sukma said there was sudden firing "from all sides" and soldiers barely had time to shield civilian workers from the line of fire.
"It was hard to tell how many Maoists were there," said Mahendra Kumar, who is recovering after surgery in a hospital inRaipur
Twenty-five men of the CRPF or Central Reserve Police Force were killed in the ambush by hundreds of Maoists at an area which was being sanitized for a road project. A team of 98 CRPF jawans were in the area, and most were about to have lunch when they were attacked.
"It was hard to tell how many Maoists were there," said Mahendra Kumar, who is recovering after surgery in a hospital in
Twenty-five men of the CRPF or Central Reserve Police Force were killed in the ambush by hundreds of Maoists at an area which was being sanitized for a road project. A team of 98 CRPF jawans were in the area, and most were about to have lunch when they were attacked.
"There must have been 100-200 attackers, but we could see only 35-40," said the soldier.
"We were doing road construction work. There was firing from the left side. We instantly covered the civilian workers and hid them."
The Maoists in black gear, he said, "fired from all sides...from the village, outside it, from the left of the road and its right."
"We were doing road construction work. There was firing from the left side. We instantly covered the civilian workers and hid them."
The Maoists in black gear, he said, "fired from all sides...from the village, outside it, from the left of the road and its right."
He saw up to 30 Maoists, armed with SLR or Self Loading Rifles, cross the road.
"I fired using an INSAS rifle. We also fired back and four or five Naxals were injured," Mahendra Kumar said.
The encounter went on for two-three hours and 24 lost their lives on the spot. Another soldier died on the way to hospital.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh has called it "cold-blooded murder" and an act of desperation by Maoists who want to stop development work. "They will not succeed in their evil designs," he said.
This is the deadliest Maoist attack in seven years
After a crowd of at least 300 Naxals closed in on paramilitary commandos, ambushing them in the thick forest of Chhattisgarh
By then, the attack - the worst in seven years on security forces in the state - had crossed three hours, revealed DM Awasthi, the Director General of Maoist Operations of the Chhattisgarh Police.
25 members of the Central Reserve Police Force or CRPF were killed yesterday. Six others were critically injured and evacuated by helicopter toRaipur
25 members of the Central Reserve Police Force or CRPF were killed yesterday. Six others were critically injured and evacuated by helicopter to
The CRPF contingent of about 100 people was guarding road workers, when they came under heavy fire from the Naxals. Women were among the attackers. Most of the commandos who died were part of a group of about 25 that had sat down for a quick lunch break, disclosed Mr Awasthi. The road that was under construction is planned as a major highway in South Bastar , one of the most under-developed areas of the country.
As the 25 CRPF jawans on their lunch break were attacked, the others fought back immediately. A soldier who survived the attack, Sher Mohammed, said from his hospital bed, "They had rocket launchers...automatic weapons, AK47s..." But Mr Awasthi denied the use of either rocket launchers or IEDs or Improvised Explosive Devices. Like Sher Mohammed, he said several Maoists were killed without revealing a count, and that the insurgents who escaped managed to swipe AK47s from the CRPF commandos.
The Maoists had observed the CRPF's routine for over a week, said Mr Awasthi, stating that they "knew exactly when and where to attack." For the CRPF operating in areas infested with Maoists, it is standard procedure to mix up routines and routes to prevent exactly what happened yesterday.
The Home Minister has called a meeting on May 8 of top officials from states like Chhattisgarh who are vulnerable to Maoists. He warned that "we may revise strategy" to deal with the insurgency, and pledged that "the sacrifices of those who died will not be in vain."
The Maoists, who claim to be protectors of tribals and their rights, regularly attack patrol parties and those involved with building new roads and infrastructure in the remote areas because it undermines their claim against the state. "There were 38 civilian contractors present yesterday, not one civilian died, the jawans fought to save them," said Mr Awasthi, emphasizing the heroic bravery of the commandos.
