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Ten security personnel and a civilian driver were killed in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast that occurred in the Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh on Wednesday, 26 April.
The IED that caused the blast on Aranpur Road was reportedly planted by Maoists.
The incident is said to have occurred when the personnel of the District Reserve Guards (DRG) were returning from an anti-Maoist operation on Wednesday, 26 April.
The DRG force was dispatched from the Dantewada district headquarters for an anti-Maoist operation based on intelligence on the presence of Maoists in an area under the Aranpur police station limits.
What Happened?
The Inspector General of Bastar, P Sundarraj, stated that the DRG personnel were returning from an anti-Maoist operation when they were targeted by the Maoists, killing 10 DRG personnel and a civilian driver.
"On inputs of presence of Maoists of Darbha division, the DRG jawans had gone on an anti-Maoist operation in Aranpur police station area, also a former stronghold of Maoist leader Hidma. The jawans were returning from the operation when they were attacked by Maoists who had planted IEDs on Aranpur-Sameli road. In the attack, 10 Jawans and a civilian driver were martyred," he said.
Sundarraj further said that senior police officials had reached the spot and the bodies of the soldiers and the driver were being recovered.
The deceased include:
3 head constables: Joga Sodi, Munna Ram Kadti, and Santosh Tamo
4 constables: Dulgo Mandavi, Lakhmu Markam, Joga Kawasi and Hariram Mandavi
3 secret soldiers (Gopneeya Sainik): Raju Ram Kartam, Jayram Podiyam, Jagdish Kawasi
A civilian driver, Dhaniram Yadav
What We Know So Far
According to sources, the DRG Jawans were out on an anti-Maoist operation and had an encounter with Maoists in the forests of Aranpur earlier on Wednesday.
The DRG jawans who usually use motorcycles to travel were returning in four-wheeler vehicles when the incident occurred.
Sources say that DRG personnel had used the same vehicles in the recent past and that might have served as an opportunity for the Maoists to identify, track, and ambush them.
The incident reportedly took place between the Aranpur police station and the CRPF camp set up at Sameli.
The distance to the site of the incident is less than 10 kilometers from both the security forces' camp and the Aranpur police station.
Sources claim that this is a serious security lapse, considering the Maoists were allegedly able to plant an IED between two security establishments.
The impact of the IED blast was so massive that a crater of 15-20 feet was formed on the Aranpur-Sameli-Jagargunda road.
According to eyewitnesses and sources, the Force Toofan vehicle of the security forces was blown away in the IED blast.
The bodies of the security forces and a civilian driver are being sent to the district headquarters.
PM Modi, HM Amit Shah, CM Baghel React to Attack
Reacting to the incident, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said:
"The news of the martyrdom of our 10 DRG jawans and a driver due to IED blast by Maoists is very sad. The jawans were returning from an anti-Naxal operation on the information of the presence of Maoist cadre under the Aranpur police station area of Dantewada. All the people of Chhattisgarh pay our tributes to them. We all share in the grief of their families. May their souls rest in peace."CM Bhupesh Baghel
Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, "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."
"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," Union Home Minister Amit Shah tweeted.
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