Ten District Reserve Guard (DRG) personnel, along with a driver, were martyred in an IED blast carried out by Maoists in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada district. The DRG personnel were on their way back after an anti-insurgency operation when they were ambushed by the Naxals.
The incident has been condemned by the Chhattisgarh Chief minister, who expressed condolences over the loss of lives and assured that the Naxals would be brought to justice. The union home minister has also spoken with the Chief Minister to provide all possible help. The bodies of the martyred personnel were being evacuated, and a search operation was underway.
P Sundarraj, the inspector general of police for the Bastar range, stated that after receiving information regarding the presence of Maoists from the Darbha division in the Puru Hidma region, DRG forces initiated an operation. Maoists targeted an IED as the van approached Aranpur- Sameli during the operation, when the jawans were returning to Dantewada.
The IED explosion was so strong that it left a crater spanning the whole width of the village road, measuring around 25 feet broad and 12 feet deep. The vehicle was destroyed by being blasted to pieces, and the shockwave twisted some of the guns. Since the April 3, 2021, ambush in Bijapur, which left 22 soldiers dead and 30 injured, this is the largest Maoist strike.
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.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 26, 2023
“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.” Tweeted prime minister Narendra Modi by condemning the attack.
President Droupadi Murmu also condemned the attack by tweeting, “I condemn the attack on police forces in Dantewada, Chhattisgarh. On behalf of all the countrymen, I express my condolences to the families and loved ones of the brave soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice in the defense of the country.”
