10 policemen among 11 killed in Maoist attack in Chhattisgarh
Ten police personnel and a driver were killed in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada district on Wednesday in the worst attack on security forces in the Maoist insurgency-hit central Indian state since April 2021.
Police said an improvised explosive device (IED) was used to blow up their vehicle when the policemen were returning from an anti-Maoist operation. Visuals showed the blast left a crater at the scene of the attack.
Union home minister Amit Shah spoke to Chattishgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel about the attack and promised all possible help to the state government.
“Anguished by the cowardly attack on the Chhattisgarh police at Dantewada. Have spoken to Chhattisgarh’s Chief Minister and assured all possible assistance to the state government. My condolences to the bereaved family members of the martyred Jawans,” he tweeted.
In a tweet, Baghel called the attack saddening and said the fight against Maoists is in its last stage and that the Left-wing insurgents would not be spared. He added the police personnel were attacked when they arrived for an operation based on a tip-off about the presence of Maoists under the Aranpur police station of Dantewada.