9 CRPF soldiers killed, 6 injured in blast by Maoists in Chhattisgarh's Sukma

File photo

RAIPUR: At least nine Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were killed and six injured in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast by suspected Maoists in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district on Tuesday.

“Combing ops were underway in the morning when a CRPF vehicle was targetted by Naxals using IED. We've reports of eight to ten casualties and wounded” said DM Awasthi, Special DG, Anti Naxal Operations. “Additional forces have been deployed to carry rescue operations. No further firing has happened.”

The Maoists blew up their mine-protected vehicle (MPV), an official told news agency PTI.

Out of the six injured, four are in a critical condition.

A lot of explosives were used to blow up the MPV, the official said.

The blast took place a team of CRPF's 212th battalion was patrolling in a forest in Kistaram area of Sukma, located around 500 kms from Raipur city, informed a paramilitary official.

"Eight paramilitary personnel, belonging to the 212th battalion, were killed in the blast," he said.

The security men were conducting an area-domination operation in the forest of Kistaram when the Maoists blew up the CRPF's mine-protected vehicle, he said.

Soon after the incident, reinforcement was rushed to the spot, he said.  

With agency inputs