Within Four Days, Two Naxal Attacks, One CRPF Jawan Killed, Several Jawans Injured and 9 Civilians Injured




Four BSF Jawans Killed and Others Injured in a fresh attack in Chhattisgarh (Representational Image)
You have been hearing news from Kashmir, Shopian, Killing of Millitants and Armed Forces in Kashmir Valley. Have you also heard this?

On 18 March, 2019 afternoon, an IED blast targeted a CRPF area domination team in the Aranpur sector of Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada district, with Maoists then opening fire on them. In the attack, one CRPF personnel was killed, and six others were injured.

Indian Express quoted Police as saying that a team of CRPF 231st battalion, posted in the Aranpur sector, were out for an area domination exercise. While returning at around 4:30 pm, when they were in the jungles between Kondapara and Kamalpost, an IED exploded, followed immediately by a heavy burst of fire.

A senior police official said in the report, “We also retaliated strongly, and though no bodies have been recovered, the Maoists have suffered injuries or casualties too. However, one of our jawans was killed in the firefight, while others also suffered gun shot injuries.”

The personnel killed has been identified as Head Constable Shashi Kant Tiwari from Uttar Pradesh’s Unnao district.

The area where the encounter took place is considered to be highly sensitive, bordering Dantewada and Sukma. It is evidenced by the fact that successive state governments have been attempting to build a road to Jagargunda, less than fifteen kilometres away from Kamalpost, for over three years but have been unsuccessful so far. Only an untarred road exists now at the area till Kondasawli, eight kilometres shy of Jagargunda.

Two days later on 21 March, 2019, nine civilians, including five women and a five-year-old boy, were injured when the vehicle they were travelling in was hit by an IED blast in Nemed area of Chhattisgarh’s Maoist-hit Bijapur district Wednesday. Police officers said one of them was seriously injured, but all were said to be out of danger.

The report quoted P Sundar Raj, DIG, Anti-Naxal Operations, said the incident took place around 7.45 pm along the Peddakodepal-Nemed road, 2 km from the National Highway connecting Jagdalpur and Bhopalapatnam. “While one civilian was seriously injured, all are said to be in a stable condition,” he said. Senior police officers said the victims were on their way to Dantewada for the Adivasi Phagun Mela.

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