CM assures all help to families as 17 cops martyred in Naxal attack in C’garh

Raipur, Mar 23: Expressing grave shock over the martyrdom of as many as 17 security personnel in Chhattisgarh’s Naxal-infested Sukma district, State Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel assured all help to their families.

Baghel said that our jawans fought with all their might with the Naxals and the government is firmly in support of their families. We will provide them all the possible help. However, we cannot cover the damage they suffer on account of the passing away of their near and der ones. We pray for their eternal peace, the Chief Minister said reiterating his resolve to uproot the Naxals from the state.

 

According to sources, bodies of 17 security personnel were found from the jungles of Sukma in Chhattisgarh where they fell to the bullets from the ultras on Saturday skirmish. Their bodies were recovered after an intensive search operation.

Those martyred police men belonged to District Reserve Guard, Special Task Force and CoBRA battalion, said SP Shalabh Sinha adding that their bodies are being evacuated.

Sources said that the team of 450 security personnel belonging to DRT, STF and CoBRA battalion launched a search operation from Chintagufa, Burkapal, and Timlewada, in the forest area of Sukma based on intelligence input. As they reached the Korajguda hills they came under the heavy fire from the Naxalites who had taken shelter in the bushes and behind the trees. Wasting no time, the security men took positions and launched a counter-offensive inflicting heavy damages to the ultras.

As the Naxals could not sustain the police fire they vanished into the jungle. However, 15 security men were injured in this fire and were airlifted to Raipur and admitted to Ramakrishna CARE Hospital for treatment on Sunday.

The incident got eclipsed as the entire country was busy in #JanataCurfew against the Coronavirus outbreak responding to the appeal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The news channels also did not pay much attention to this serious incident.