Ten police personnel, driver killed in blast carried out by Naxalites in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada

DANTEWADA,APR 26: Ten police personnel and a driver were killed in a blast carried out by Naxalites in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada district on Wednesday, officials said.

The incident took place under Aranpur police station limits when a team of the state police’s District Reserve Guard (DRG) was returning after an anti-Naxalite operation, a senior official said.

The area is located around 450 km from the state capital Raipur.

Naxalites blew up the mini-goods van in which the security personnel were travelling by using an Improvised Explosive Device (IED), police sources said.

TV visuals from a local news channel showed a huge crater splitting the road wide open.

Bodies covered with plastic sheets, and also vehicle parts were seen strewn along.

Confirming the incident, Chattisgarh Chief Minister 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.”

“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 all the people of the state pay our respects to him. We all share in the grief of their families. May his soul rest in peace”, tweeted the CM.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on the attack.

“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.

-PTI