Twenty-six personnel of the 39 Battalion of the Central Reserve Police Force were killed in a Maoist ambush in Chhattisgarh's Narayanpur district on Tuesday. “At present we can confirm only 26 deaths,” said CRPF Inspector-General Vijay Raman. “We shall be in a position to give a final figure only once all the troops returned to the camp.”
“We also lost a CRPF officer, Assistant Commandant Gulati, in the ambush,” said another source in CRPF intelligence, adding that “the toll was expected to rise.” About 70 CRPF personnel were conducting a Road Opening Operation (ROP) on foot on the Narayanpur-Orcha road when the attack occurred.
At least two critically injured policemen were evacuated to Jagdalpur by helicopter.
Officials told The Hindu that the soldiers were still making their way back to their camp.
Maoist bandh
Local journalists in Narayanpur said the attack occurred in the backdrop of a two-day bandh called by the Communist Party of India (Maoist).
Sources said the attack took place near a hilly stretch known as the Jhadha Ghati, 3 km from Dhudhai. According to a PTI report, Maoist fighters opened fire from a hilltop as the soldiers were returning from their patrol.
“A large number of Maoist fighters surrounded the rear section of the CRPF party and opened fire,” said a source.
The Narayanpur-Orcha road is considered the gateway to Abujhmad, a 4000-sq. km. forested area that has been declared a “liberated zone” by the CPI (Maoist).
In past years, the onset of the monsoon usually marked a reduction in the number of encounters. This year, however, police officials indicated that search operations would continue despite the inclement weather.
String of attacks
On April 6 this year, 75 CRPF soldiers and a head constable of the Chhattisgarh police were killed in an early morning ambush in Dantewada district. On May 8, eight men of the CRPF were killed in Narayanpur when naxals blew up a mine-proof vehicle.
PTI adds
Chronology of recent attacks
Following is the chronology of major recent Naxal attacks in the country.
June 29, 2008: Maoists attack a boat on Balimela reservoir in Orissa carrying four anti—Naxalite police officials and 60 Greyhound commandos, killing 38 troops.
July 16, 2008: 21 policemen killed when a police van is blown up in a landmine blast in Malkangiri district of Orissa.
April 13, 2009: 10 paramilitary troops killed in eastern Orissa when Maoists attack a bauxite mine in Koraput district.
April 22, 2009: Maoists hijack a train with at least 300 people on board in Jharkhand and force it to Latehar district before fleeing.
May 22, 2009: Maoists kill 16 policemen in the jungles of Gadchiroli district in Maharashtra.
June 10, 2009: Nine policemen, including CRPF troops and officers, ambushed by Maoists during a routine patrol in Saranda jungles in Jharkhand.
June 13, 2009: Naxals launch two landmine and bomb attacks in a small town close to Bokaro, killing 10 policemen and injuring several others.
June 16, 2009: Maoists kill 11 police officers in a landmine attack followed by armed assault. In a separate attack, four policemen were killed and two others seriously injured when Maoists ambush them at Beherakhand in Palamau district.
June 23, 2009: A group of motorcycle-borne armed Naxal rebels open fire on Lakhisarai district court premises in Bihar and free four of their comrades including the self-style Zonal Commander of Ranchi.
July 18, 2009: Naxalites kill a villager in Bastar and in a separate incident torch a vehicle engaged in road construction work in Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh.
July 27, 2009: Six persons killed when Naxals trigger a landmine blast at Dantewada district in Chhattisgarh.
July 31, 2009: A special police officer and another person killed by Naxals in Bijapur district.
Sep 4, 2009: Naxals kill four villagers in a forest in Aaded village in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district.
Sep 26, 2009: Naxals kill BJP MP from Balaghat Baliram Kashyap’s sons at Pairaguda village in Jagdalpur (Chhattisgarh).
Sep 30, 2009: Naxalites set ablaze Gram Panchayat offices at Korchi and Belgaon in Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra.
Oct 8, 2009: 17 policemen killed when Maoists ambushed them at Laheri police station in Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra.
Feb 15, 2010: 24 personnel of the Eastern Frontier Rifles (EFR) killed as Maoists attack their camp in Silda in West Midnapore district of West Bengal.
April 4, 2010: Maoists trigger a landmine blast killing 11 security personnel of the elite anti-naxal force Special Operations Group (SOG) in Koraput district of Orrisa.
April 6, 2010: 75 CRPF personnel and a Chhattisgarh police official killed in a naxal attack in Dantewada district.
May 8, 2010: Eight CRPF jawans were killed when Naxals blow up a bullet-proof vehicle in Bijapur district of Chhhattisgarh.
June 29, 2010: At least 26 CRPF personnel killed in a Naxal ambush in Narayanpur district of Chhattisgarh.
Keywords: Maoist attack, Chhattisgarh, CRPF, Bastar region, Naxals
Anywhere there is difficult and unfamiliar terrain(Topogrphy full of forests and hills)army how so ever bold or have any type of weapons,they are all likely to fail.Look at how Russians failed and Americans are failing in Afghanistan and how Vietnam war was lost.The only way succeed is the merciless massive attack by air force as was done in Shri Lanka.
Last month The Hindu reported that AF(SP)A which provides immunity from prosecution for Armed Forces personnel was being discussed in "Green Paper" form before cabinet before it can be repealed and replaced with more humane legislation. All politicians are opportunistic and self-serving. India's democracy is far more evolved than all the others in this respect. Perhaps it is time to repeal AF(SP)A and instead of refusing to negotiate with enemies who bear weapons, start negotiations to end the civil war. The alternative is only to hold negotiations with peace loving people with whom you are already in agreement.
Why our government and political parties are so soft on naxalism? CRPF jawans are not the prey for Maoists. Need strict action against maoists. Politicians are always talking about terrorism, Al qaeda and all. Why can't they just act against domestic terrorism?
This is very crucial in our country.Naxalism is very dangerous.
crpf jawans must be well equipped & well trained to fight against the maoist.they have to know the guerrilla tactics & jungle war to tackle the maoist.
If the gov not take the further step to stop these Maoist they definitely cause the serious injury to our country. Like they are started doing in the CG, it may will go beyond the hands of the Indian system.
Naxalism has become the curse for the India not for it's a obstacle in the progress of India but it's devastating the most skilled warfare units ,more than this the citizens of India.the soldiers are expected to show their vigor on the border confronting the invaders are fighting with own people unwillingly.they are killed due to mere difference of uniform that makes them civilian to a soldier & their own countrymen forget a civilian lives inside this uniform & put this uniform to save their own country and to livelihood.Leaders must find a way to come out from this plight and stop the massacre of either side because in both the condition we are loosing our people.
guerrillas have to be fought by guerrilla tactics only not by conventional police patrols and parties
it's a second chance of major injury in chattishgarh. It's a very shame less for force personnel because force has no right to utilize the power against the moist. its a time to woke up and fight with moist till end of life.
Deep condolences
“Inhuman cult of death”… poor civilians and can not fight for it….Our government should rise up to the situation. I believe, the budget is to be utilized not only for the national security but for the internal security as well.
There is a vicarious liability for the master (government) for the wrongs committed by his servants (here it is Maoists). The government should stand by for maintaining safety and security of health and wealth of citizens of the country. Why government is delaying in taking adequate action against Maoists or the interest is limited to national security issues or cross border terrorism alone?
Is it not a shame to the three pillars of our democratic system and the fourth estate, The PRESS?
Where is our judiciary? Where is suo motto? Where is our well known IPC, CRPC?
Jai Hind.
now,naxilities became terrorist so should be treated like them .life of Security personnel should be protected through every possible way. if fail this,security personnel would be demoralised.
why not government take any action against the naxal why not government take helf of air force i think there is region behind it . because politician didnt want to destroy the naxal because they need it on the time of election .
If a small country like Sri Lanka can successfully tackle the LTTE menace, why can't a big country like India which can summon all its resources, which boasts of a huge army, navy and air force do something about naxals? Are you waiting for a specific number of dead bodies to turn up to take action?
These failures throw up many things. First security forces lives are expendable according to the Home Ministry. Second sub standard training has been imparted.Third lax attitude of those in charge. Finally as no one is held to be accountable this sort of events will be repeated again and again.
Its too much...why the government still not able to take a hard decision against moists?
Home Minister Chidambaram has been getting adulatory attention in the media in spite of the fact that the security situation in the country has not improved under his watch. His much publicised "operation green hunt" against the Maoists has not yet succeeded to tame the them, As a matter of fact the insurgents are striking at will wherever they want. In Kashmir the situation is on the boil. The Home Ministry has much to ponder about. Meaningful action is what the nation expects from a Home Minister widely acclaimed in the media as a man of action.
WHEN DO ALL THIS THINGS STOP!!!!!!!!!
WHEN DO THE GOVT. WAKEUP????????
ISN'T ENOUGH 4 THE GOVT TO ACT?????????
Dear Sir,
This is too much. We must put up all our efforts to stop such massacres in the hands of the Maoists.
No more waste of time and Government has to react and take action. It is our jawans loosing their life not political party members.
Dear sir, My heartfelt condolenses for all the families who lost their children in the latest ambush. It is extremely clear that the government is playing a softball pussyfooting game in this war against terrorism. With civilian control of the operations and strategy to be approved by the top, where will be the success. You do not need any more deaths to prove that the whole strategy is wrong. Jungle warfare, talk to US Army which has enough experience in Viet Nam and Korea. The Indian government is using British Raj techniques, where the enemy is unarmed and a few who have no place to hide. Such thinking will not work. Unless they have an experienced General in charge of the operation with full freedon to decide and with unlimited supply of resources, this war cannot be won. Perhaps they do not wish to win. By the way, contrary to the present perception, Indian armed forces and paramilitary are very weak.
Unless you replace all the civilians including the Home Ministeer, there will be no success for years to come. By that time, perhaps the Maoists and Naxals would be ruling India.
subramni.
Dear Sir,
I am an Engineer retired from a Central Government Establishment a few years back. I am proud of my Nation and the Government.
I feel very sad of development of this nature. Why the concerned authorities find it difficult to rise up to the occassion and save our beloved soldiers?
See, the soldiers on duty,on foot!, are attacked cruelly,by the enemies, on foot too, from a hill top, may be in a forest.( Sorry I am not familiar with the topography of the area). It is a clear situation which means we know the attackers are around and our beloved soldiers are fired at too. If our children are fired at and mercilously killed like this, not an incidence of once but a continuing one, why, the heaven!, our powerful air power even not called upon to deal with the devils 'properly' as in a war situation?. How long we will remain idle? How long we will wait to hear several hudreds of dutiboud soldiers more and again are killed like this. Are we not treating the Maoists as traitors and enemies of our beloved emerging nation? Are we maintaining ahimsa principle in the case of this enemy? Are the lives of the CRPF personnel cheap and value less?
Sorry, I spoke so much out of my emotions. But Sir, why our nation fails with respect to the Naxals. Are we helpless? Are we going to doomed?
Continue attack on the police personnels by Maoists are very serious issue and the failure of Intelligence and other agencies. Time is ripe for understanding the gravity of the situation and making arrangements for the proper redressal of griveances of both the sides.
That is more than 280 people killed!!! What is the matter with CRPF - they seem to be slaughtered at will by these "maoists"??!! Is it lack of training or lack of leadership or political interference or all of the above? For heaven's sake, suspend operations till these CRPF personnel are trained with anti-guerilla/terrorist techniques...
This is the greatest threat to our sovereignty .These internal insurrections should be heavy-handedly quashed and also government must ascertain hands of our enemies in assisting them .
How such people who don't have money to eat can purchase such sophisticated weapons such as AK-47s and bomb launchers?
Unless and until unless rebellion is ended we can not tackle out side threats like terrorist and our traditional enemies.
--- NILESH SALPE
Can someone show this timeline to the home minister please.
Wake up Mr.Chidambaram, when our armed forces and paramiltary forces or even police forces are targeted the government needs to stand up for them. These people - no matter what caste, creed, political affiliation are to be declared ENEMY OF THE STATE!
Yes the defense forces signed up liability declaration stating they would even lose their lives in the line of duty, but losing life like this is completely unacceptable. Is our defense people life so worthless? Man its priceless to find such brave men and women who come forward to lay their lives.
If you don't do something soon, people will lose faith and soon the PM,CM's and their cabinet will have to walk along the LOC's or borders...........
all the attacks by the maoists on CRPF jawans are very brutal and these can not be neglected. government should have taken offensive steps against maoists unless their attacks will increase in future.
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