26 CRPF personnel killed in Maoists attack in Chhattisgarh

NEW DELHI: Three months after it lost 76 men in an ambush by Maoists, the CRPF suffered another massive loss in Bastar: 26 of its men were killed when the Maoists attacked a road opening party in Narayanpur district.
CRPF special DG Vijay Raman told the Times of India that 26 CRPF men have been confirmed dead and 5 injured. The casualties may be higher. "These are not final figures," Raman said.
The attack took place just three kilometres from a CRPF camp in Dhaudhai on a road leading to the densely forested Maoist-controlled Abhujhmad area.
The party of "about company strength with 70 personnel" was on its way back from clearing the road when the Maoists opened fire from a hilltop.
"We are in the process of evacuating our men. Some have been brought back. Others are being brought back to safety," said R K Dua, IG CRPF. He added that while two seriously injured men had been evacuated by helicopter, the air sortees had to be suspended as evening fell.
Brigadier B K Ponwar, who heads the Jungle Warfare College in Kanker said, "You have to be doubly secure when making the return journey along the same route. You need to secure all areas from where you can be fired upon."
Union home secretary G K Pillai said security and medical reinforcements have been sent to the spot and all the bodies have been recovered. The injured have been taken to a hospital by a helicopter, he said, PTI reported.
The troops were from the 39th battalion of the force and were a part of its 'E' and 'F' companies, CRPF chief Vikram Srivastava said.
On May 8, eight men of the paramilitary force were killed when naxals blew up a mine-proof vehicle also in Narayanpur district.