The 25 CRPF personnel who were killed in an encounter with Maoists in Chattisgarh's Sukma district on Monday, had stopped over for lunch when they came under attack.
The attack took place between Burkapal and Chintagufa in Sukma, which is said to be the core area of Maoists.
The heavily armed Maoist group was led by Hidma, head of PLGA Battalion, is one of the deadliest armed cadre of the Maoists who also had sophisticated weapons with them. The group also included many women cadres, an official said.
The CRPF personnel had gone out to secure an under construction road when they came under attack. The Maoists also looted more than 30 weapons, bulletproof jackets and wireless sets.
"They were moving in a group and when they broke for lunch, the Maoists attacked them. Around 300 Maoists sprayed bullets on them,killing 21 at the spot and three succumbed to injuries after being evacuated to Raipur," said a senior official.
An official said the modus operandi was similar to the March 11 incident when 12 CRPF jawans were ambushed when they had gone to secure a road-construction party.
