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Blow-by-blow Account of How India Lost 25 CRPF Jawans Within an Hour

Blow-by-blow Account of How India Lost 25 CRPF Jawans Within an Hour

An injured CRPF jawan is taken to hospital after a Maoist attack (TV grab/CNN-News18)

New Delhi: In a deadly ambush by Naxals, 25 CRPF personnel were killed in Chhattisgarh’s Sukhma district.

Seven personnel are reported to be missing, and four others injured

The Maoists ambushed the CRPF’s 74th Battalion at Kala Pathar near Chintagufa, the worst Maoist violence-affected area in South Bastar

According to CRPF Deputy Inspector General M Dinakaran, the CRPF men were out for a road opening task, when they came under heavy fire from Naxalites

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The attack on the battalion started early in the afternoon around 1pm and went on for an hour

Constable Sher Mohammed, a survivor, said there were close to 300 Maoists who ambushed the troops

The Naxals looted all arms and ammunition of the CRPF jawans

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“First, villagers traced our location and strength then almost 300 Naxals attacked us. In retaliatory firing, we also killed many of them. At least 3-4 Naxals were shot in the chest,” said Constable Mohammed

The Maoists, he added, were carrying automatic weapons, AK47s and INSAS rifles

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Reinforcement from the nearest CRPF camp was rushed to the spot and the injured were airlifted to Raipur for treatment.

A major search operation is underway and CRPF Cobra teams are on the lookout for the attackers.

First Published: April 24, 2017, 9:35 PM IST