This story is from March 31, 2016

7 CRPF jawans killed by Bastar Maoists

Under mounting pressure from security forces, desperate Maoist rebels triggered a powerful IED explosion killing seven CRPF jawans and injuring three other personnel near Mailawara market in Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh on Wednesday.
7 CRPF jawans killed by Bastar Maoists
RAIPUR: Under mounting pressure from security forces, desperate Maoist rebels triggered a powerful IED explosion killing seven CRPF jawans and injuring three other personnel near Mailawara market in Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh on Wednesday.
The blast was so powerful that the vehicle they were in was tossed in the air and its wheels, axle and mechanical parts flung several metres away.
The Maoists then fired at the injured CRPF personnel of the 230 Battalion before disappearing into the forests.
CRPF director-general P Chandra said 10 personnel were on their way from Nakulnar to Dantewada when the attack took place. He said rebels did not take away any weapons.
Chhattisgarh’s special director-general, Naxalite Operation, D M Awasthi, said, “CRPF personnel were returning from leave and were in civil dress. The state police had sent an alert two days ago asking security peronnel to step up vigil.”
Dantewada SP Kamalochan Kashyap, who rushed to the spot with reinforcements, said a search operation was launched to smoke out the rebels. Preliminary indications suggested Darba Maoists had led the attack.
The attack comes at a time when security forces have launched a massive anti-Naxalite operation in Bastar and claimed success in liberating several Red zones. However, in last two months, situation in Bastar has been tense. Civil right groups are alleging largescale human rights violations and arrest of journalists to suppress flow of information from remote areas.

In strife-torn Bastar, security personnel in vehicles are vulnerable to landmine blasts. There are clear guidelines on how to go about an operation or even routine patrolling in forested terrain. However, security forces, including state police, skip rules at times due to compelling situations or sheer negligence.
In most recent incidents, security forces deviated from standard operating procedures (SOPs), which required them to walk or take two-wheelers to avoid landmines.
Close to 90% causalities among security personnel in Bastar are due to landmine blasts and security experts say strictly following rules can help reduce damage.
Those who died include D Bijay Raj, Pradeep Tirkey, Roop Narayan Dash, Devendra Chourasia, Ranjan Das, Saidene Nana Ude Singh and Mrityunjay Mukherjee.
TIMELINE
April 6, 2010: 75 CRPF personnel and a Chhattisgarh police official killed in Dantewada. The team was camping in the interiors of Tadmetla jungles as part of a combing operation
May 25, 2013: Top Congress officials including then PCC chief Nandkumar Patel, former Union minister V C Shukla, senior tribal Mahendra Karma and former legislator Uday Mudaliyar among 25 killed in a deadly Maoist ambush in Darbha Valley
March 11, 2014: 16 people, including 11 CRPF personnel, four cops and one civilian killed in thickly forested area of Jheeram Ghati in Sukma district
April 13, 2015: A BSF constable in Kanker district, and 4 security personnel killed when Maoists blew up a mine-protected vehicle near Cholnar in Dantewada district
March 4, 2016: Three CRPF personnel killed and 14 injured in Sukma district
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