A high-intensity IED blast controlled by Maoist ultras resulted in the death of seven police personnel in Chattisgarh’s Dantewada district yesterday. Two people were also severely injured in the attack.
The incident occurred just before noon when personnel of the Chattisgarh Armed Force and district police were accompanying a vehicle carrying road construction material towards Kirandaul village. Maoists looted arms of the police personnel after killing them and fled immediately before reinforcements were rushed to the spot.
Chattisgarh government has been trying to construct roads in the Bastar region to provide access to local tribals. The deceased police personnel were on their way to carry out orders of providing security to laborers and government officials presently constructing a Kirandaul-Palnar stretch of construction.
Chief Minister Raman Singh, who was addressing a political rally in the state yesterday, sought a minute’s silence during his speech. He then slammed Naxalites for attacking police jawans who were just helping the government construct roads in inaccessible regions.
“This incident proves that Maoists do not want villagers and tribals in Dantewada to have access to even basic facilities like roads. Such incidents cannot dampen the determination of police forces, employees and laborers indulged in road construction,” said Singh during the rally.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who is going to visit Dantewada today to participate in a passing-out parade of CRPF jawans, condemned the incident and referred to Maoists as “cowards” for indulging in such attacks which expose their anti-development mindset.