10 jawans and a driver have been killed in an IED explosion carried out by Naxals in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada.
Sources said Naxals attacked a patrolling party on April 26 on Aranpur road in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada. A Team of District Reserve Guard (DRG) was returning in a vehicle to their headquarters when an IED planted on the Aranpur road exploded, killing at least 10 jawans and the driver.
According to officials, after getting intelligence about the presence of Maoists in a location within the Aranpur Police Station limits, a DRG team was dispatched from Dantewada for an anti-Naxalite operation.
The blast occurred when the team was returning from the operation.
Explosives had been planted on the road the vehicle had taken for its return. The area is located around 450 km from the state capital Raipur.
In a video released after the incident, IG Bastar range P Sundar Raj while confirming the attack said that the DRG Jawans were out on combing operations in the Aranpur area of Dantewada and when the personnel were returning to the district headquarters an IED explosion occurred near Aranpur-Sameli area in which as many as 10 DRG personnel have been martyred.
Reinforcement has been immediately rushed to the spot and the evacuation process of the bodies of Martyred personnel is being carried out, more details pertaining to the incident is still awaited, added IG Sundar Raj.
Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel tweeted, “The news of the martyrdom of our 10 DRG jawans and a driver due to IED blast on the DRG force which had arrived for anti-Naxal operation on the information of the presence of Maoist cadre under Aranpur police station area of Dantewada is very sad. We all the people of the state pay our respects to him. We all share in the grief of their families. May his soul rest in peace”.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah also expressed his condolences for the deaths and assured the Chhattisgarh government of his full assistance. Amit Shah tweeted, “Anguished by the cowardly attack on the Chhattisgarh police at Dantewada. Have spoken to Chhattisgarh’s Chief Minister and assured all possible assistance to the state government. My condolences to the bereaved family members of the martyred jawans”.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah also spoke to Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and took stock of the Dantewada incident that claimed the lives of 10 District Reserve Guard (DRG) personnel and one driver. He also assured the Chhattisgarh CM that the centre will give all possible help to the state government.
PM Modi also expressed his condolences to the bereaved families, he tweeted, “Strongly condemn the attack on the Chhattisgarh police in Dantewada. I pay my tributes to the brave personnel we lost in the attack. Their sacrifice will always be remembered”.
Strongly condemn the attack on the Chhattisgarh police in Dantewada. I pay my tributes to the brave personnel we lost in the attack. Their sacrifice will always be remembered. My condolences to the bereaved families.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 26, 2023
The jawans were members of the District Reserve Guard (DRG), a special unit of the Chhattisgarh police made up largely of local tribals trained to combat Maoists because they’re well-versed with the inhospitable terrain and dense forests.
The DRG has played a crucial role in several successful operations against the Maoists in Dantewada, a hotspot of red terrorism. They are also known as “son of soil” since their personnel are drawn from local youth and surrendered Naxals. On various occasions, the DRG has shown courage and earned various accolades.
It is to be noted that this is the first such large-scale casualties that have occurred in the last one and a half year after the security forces up the ante in the Maoists stronghold of Bastar, it’s been learnt that the Maoist have exploded a 50 kg IED bomb to attack the DRG personnel.
