Chhattisgarh: 10 cops, driver killed in Maoist IED attack; were travelling in rented min-van

Maoists blew up the mini-goods van in which the security personnel were travelling by using an IED, police sources said. The slain security personnel belonged to the District Reserve Guard (DRG).

Dantewada: In a major attack on security forces, at least 10 policemen and one civilian driver were killed in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast carried out by Maoists in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada on Wednesday.

The attack took place in Aranpur area of Dantewada. Maoists blew up the rented mini-goods van in which the security personnel were travelling, police sources said. The slain security personnel belonged to the District Reserve Guard (DRG). DRG comprises mostly local tribals trained to combat Maoists.

They had gone to Aranpur after getting inputs about the presence of Maoists there. The IED blast took place when the Jawans were returning from the area. The area is located around 450 km from the state capital Raipur. Visuals from the spot showed a huge crater splitting the road wide open. Bodies covered with plastic sheets, and also vehicle parts were seen strewn along.

"10 DRG jawans and one civilian driver lost their lives in the attack...Bodies of all of them are being evacuated from the spot. Senior officers are present there. The search operation is underway," IG Bastar, P Sundarajan said.

The slain police personnel and the driver were identified as Head Constable Joga Sodhi, Head Constable Munna Ram Kadti, Head Constable Santosh Tamo, New constable Dulgo Mandavi, New Constable Lakhmu Markam, New Constable Joga Kawasi, New Constable Hariram Mandavi, Secret Soldier Raju Ram Kartam, Secret Soldier Jairam Podiyam, Secret Soldier Jagdish Kawasi, and driver Dhaniram Yadav.

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel offered condolences to the families of the martyred policemen. "The news of the martyrdom of our 10 DRG jawans and a driver due to 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," read the translation of his tweet in Hindi.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah took stock of the situation. He spoke to Baghel and assured him of all central assistance. "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," Shah tweeted.

The combing operation is on in the area. According to reports, the Maoists had through a letter last week threatened to attack security forces. Sources say the number of casualties can rise as there are reports of injuries to many other personnel as well.