Around 10 police personnel and a goods-van driver were killed in an explosion carried out by Naxals (Maoists) in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada today i.e. on Wednesday. The explosion site is approx. 450 Km from the state’s capital city Ranchi. According to the police sources, the Naxals blew up a goods minivan, in which the security personnel were travelling using an IED (Improvised Explosive Device).

The heart-wrenching attack comes just a day after the General of Police of Bastar Range Sundarraj P said that over 400 Maoist cadres are surrendering every year.

Official statements

Speaking to the news agency ANI, Sundarraj P said, “On average, more than 400 Maoist cadres are surrendering every year. A special campaign named ‘Lone Varratu’ has been conducted in District Dantewada for this purpose and the results are great.”

After this explosion attack, he said that the deceased bodies are being evacuated from the incident spot and a search operation for the Maoists is on.

The 10 martyred jawans were identified as head constable Joga Sodhi, head constable Munna Ram Kadti, head constable Santosh Tamo, constable Dulgo Mandavi, constable Lakhmu Markam, constable Joga Kawasi, constable Hariram Mandavi, egomania sainiks Raju Ram Kartan, Jairam Podiam, and Jagadish Kawasi.

PM Modi pays tribute to cops killed in Maoist attack

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed anguish at the attack and paid tributes to the DRG personnel who lost their lives.

“Strongly condemn the attack on the Chhattisgarh police in Dantewada. I pay my tributes to the brave personnel we lost in the attack. Their sacrifice will always be remembered. My condolences to the bereaved families,” the PM tweeted.

Second terror attack in recent weeks

It is the second such incident in as many weeks in Chhattisgarh that the terror of Maoism has been ignited within the streets of the state. A DRG jawan was injured in a similar attack in Bijapur on April 17.

Taking notes from the incident, the state chief minister, Bhupesh Baghel said the team of the District Reserve Guard (DRG), a special branch of the Chhattisgarh police to combat Maoists, was on an anti-naxal operation in the area.

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CM Bahgel takes to Twitter

In a tweet in Hindi, CM Baghel wrote, “The news of the martyrdom of our 10 DRG jawans and a driver due to an IED blast on the DRG force which had arrived for anti-Naxal operation on the information of the presence of Maoist cadre under Aranpur police station area of Dantewada is very sad. The people of the state pay our respects to them. We all share in the grief of their families. May their souls rest in peace.”

Moreover, the chief minister also apprised Union Home Minister Amit Shah about the situation. Amit Shah has assured all possible help to CM Baghel.