NAXAL ATTACK LEAVES 15 JAWANS 1 CIVILIAN DEAD IN CHATTISGARH

Sixteen security personnel were killed in a Maoist ambush on Tuesday in the Sukma district of south Chhattisgarh. One civilian, Vikram Nishad, also died in the cross fire while three others were injured.

Chhattisgarh’s Additional Director General of Police Mukesh Gupta said 11 of the personnel who died belonged to the CRPF while four were from the Chhattisgarh police.

The incident took place when a joint team of the CRPF and the State police of about 50 personnel and divided into two platoons, were moving from Tongpal village to Jeeram Ghati in Sukma districts where Maoists had ambushed more than 30 people last May.

They were engaged in an area domination exercise to sanitise the area for troop movement and also to provide security to road construction workers. About 100 Maoists surrounded them and opened fire.