The Naxals attacked the security personnel between Chintalnar and Tademetla in Sukma block when they were on way to Tademetla in a vehicle, IBNLive reported.[break]
According to the website, the Naxals first triggered a landmine blast and the moment the vehicle stopped, the rebels ambushed the CRPF team from a hill top in the worst attack against the security forces.
"The total casualty is 73 and about 12 CRPF personnel have been injured," it quoted CRPF DIG (Anti-Naxal operations) SRP Kalluri as saying. "The CRPF party was out for last three days. The Naxalites attacked today morning between 6 AM and 7 AM. The reinforcements have reached. We are trying to evacuate the injured through helicopters. The security forces party was more than 80. We have collected 40 bodies till now."
However, senior Chhattisgarh Police officials and sources in Ministry of Home Affairs feared that the death toll could rise, the report further added.
According to report, a gunbattle was going on at Jagargunda in Chintalnar block of Dantewada district between hundreds of armed Naxals and about 100 CRPF personnel.
"We are trying to send reinforcement forces to the spot. The forces are facing difficulty as the area has been blocked by the Naxals. Naxals had built bunkers on the hill top and CRPF personnel were not aware of the bunkers. The attack was preplanned. They first attacked the CRPF mobile van and followed it up by firing on the team," said Chhattisgarh Director General of Police Vishwa Ranjan.
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