80 CRPF Jawans killed in fresh encounter

This will be a brutal set back for ‘operation green hunt’ initiated by Home Minister Chidambaram with an intention to launch a scathing attack on Maoists in Chattisgarh. Fresh land mine blasts in Taadimetla village of Dantewada District on Andhra Pradesh and Chattisgarh border report that nearly 80 CRPF Jawans are dead while 10 are seriously injured and fighting for life.

An intense encounter gun battle between security forces and naxals in this dense forest is still on. The attack took place when a CRPF patrol party was returning from duty in the naxalite infested Mukrana Forest in the district between 6 to 7 am.

Sources said the CRPF patrol party was taken by surprise by the naxals, who opened fire at them from nearby hillock. The intensity of the attack can be gauged from the fact that security personnel were unable to lift the dead bodies of their colleagues as the ambush as extremists continued relentless firing.

A chopper has been sent from Jagdalpur, to move the injured troopers to hospital and even the chopper was attacked by Maoists. Chattisgarh DIG Kalluri Shiva Prasad has confirmed that death toll may further increase while Chidambaram is very much upset and shocked by such heavy loss of Jawans.