New Delhi: Ten security officials and a driver, reportedly travelling in a mini-van, were killed in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast allegedly carried out by Naxals in Chhattisgarh on Wednesday. The incident reportedly took place in Aranpur area of Dantewada.
This was the biggest attack carried out by the Maoists on the security forces in the state in the last two years. In 2021, 22 security personnel were killed in an ambush along the border of Sukma and Bijapur districts.
Speaking to reporters, Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel said, “There is such information with us. It is very saddening. My condolences to the bereaved families. This fight is in its last stage. Naxals won’t be spared.”
Further, taking to Twitter, the CM said, “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. We, 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.”
The site of the blast was around 450 km from the state capital Raipur.
The slain security personnel were from the District Reserve Guard (DRG), a state force designed to carry out anti-Maoist operations.
Acting on a tip-off about Maoist presence in Aranpur, a team of DRG had left to conduct an anti-Maoist operation. The team was returning in a vehicle to their headquarters when an IED planted on the Aranpur road blasted killing the 11 personnel.
Reacting to the attack, Inspector General of Police for Bastar range, Sundarraj P said, “The incident took place in the jurisdiction of Aranpur police station in Dantewada district. Acting on information of Maoist presence in the area, an operation was conducted by the Deputy Inspector General (DIG). As they were returning to the Dantewada headquarters, the team was targeted by the Maoists. One of the vehicles was blasted in the IED attack wherein 10 DRG jawans and a driver lost their lives. Reinforcements of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and DRG have been sent to the spot. Search operations are underway and senior officials are at the spot. The process of removing bodies of the slain personnel is underway.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the attack on security personnel and paid his condolences to the families of the deceased. ” 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,” he wrote on Twitter.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to CM Baghel and took stock of the incident. He said the Centre will extend all possible help to the state government.
“The news of the martyrdom of 10 DRG jawans and a driver in the cowardly Naxalite attack in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada is sad. I express my deepest condolences to their bereaved families in this difficult time. My salute and tribute to all the brave martyrs,” wrote Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Twitter.
Taking to Twitter, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge wrote, “The martyrdom of our 10 DRG jawans and a driver in a cowardly attack in an anti-Naxal operation in Dantewada, Chhattisgarh is deeply saddened. The fight against Naxalism in Chhattisgarh is in its last phase, our government will win in it.”
According to data provided by the CRPF earlier this year, incidents of violent Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) attacks in Chhattisgarh dropped by 77 per cent in 2022, compared to 2010, but the incident of killings were increasing, with 10 security personnel killed in the last year and seven personnel killed until February 28 this year. The force said it believes that instead of attacking a large number of personnel in one attack, the Maoists have started targeting them when they find them in low numbers.
In February, three security personnel were killed during an encounter with Maoists in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district. CRPF men had gone there to provide security cover for road construction work. The incident occurred when a joint team of security forces were conducting searches in jungles in the area between Kunded and Jagargunda, in Sukma.
Agencies

KR Desk