Raipur: A day after the IED attack which led to martyrdom of 8 security personnel in Bijapur, the bodies of the martyred personnel reached their respective villages for the one final time on Tuesday, January 7.
A heart-breaking moment arrived for the villagers in Dantewada’s Gumlannar village when the 2-months old son of Sudarshan Vetti, one of the personnel who laid down his life in line of duty, bided farewell to his father, leaving everyone in tears.
#Chhattisgarh | In the Bijapur attack, martyr Sudarshan Vetti was bid farewell by his 2-month-old son, marking an emotional and heartbreaking moment!#BijapurAttack #Maoist pic.twitter.com/PGUcVc2TEN
— Organiser Weekly (@eOrganiser) January 7, 2025
Sudarshan got married only last year and became a father in November 2024. He made supreme sacrifice in line of duty on Monday, leaving his newly wed wife and a 2-month-old son behind. “They (Maoists) too would meet the same fate that they gave him (Sudarshan). Their death would be even worse,” said an emotionless Pramila, the now widowed wife of Vetty, while trying to console their two month-old son.
#WATCH | Bastar Fighter Sudarshan Vetti's wife, Pramila Tillam says, "We got married on 5th June 2024…Our son completed 2 months of age yesterday (on 6th January)…They (naxals) too would meet the same fate that they gave him (Sudarshan Vetti), their death would be even… pic.twitter.com/rJb0hNU3rA
— ANI (@ANI) January 7, 2025
A similar atmosphere prevails in Tumaar village, around 25 kilometers from Dantewada where body of another Jawan Subarnath Yadav was brought up for the last rites. Yadav had recently celebrated his 23rd birthday and was the sole bread winner of his family.
According to the reports, Yadav wanted to construct a house for his family before getting married this year. His friend recalls that he left his birthday celebrations, informing that he has to go for a counter-insurgency operation on January 3 with a promise to return soon but he never. Yadav was commissioned in the police department in the year 2022.
8 security personnel along with a civilian driver were killed in a strong IED explosion triggered by the Maoists near Amberi village, around 55 kilometers from Bijapur district headquarters on Monday, amrking one of the deadliest attack carried by the outlawed CPI (Maoist) in the last two years.
The incident occurred when the personnel were returning from a joint operation when the IED explosion struck their vehicle, leading to their immediate demise.
Other than Vetty and Yadav, five of the martyred personnel identified as Somdu Vetty, Harish Korram, Pandaru Poyam, Dumma Madkami and Baman Sodhi were resident of Dantewada district while another soldier Budhram Korsa was a resident of Tungali village of Bijapur district. The civilian driver Tuleshwar Rana was a resident of Tokapal block.
Earlier on Tuesday, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai and Deputy CM Vijay Sharma reached Karli ground of Dantewada and offered their condolences to the beavered family members. The CM and his deputy also lifted the coffins of the martyrs and paid tribute to them.
बीजापुर जिले के कुटरू क्षेत्र में नक्सलियों द्वारा किए गए आईईडी विस्फोट में डीआरजी के 8 जवान और एक वाहन चालक शहीद हो गए। आज मुख्यमंत्री श्री विष्णुदेव साय जी के साथ दंतेवाड़ा पहुंचकर वीर जवानों को श्रद्धांजलि अर्पित की। शहीद जवानों के परिजनों से मिलकर गहरी शोक संवेदना प्रकट की।… pic.twitter.com/1qEn2feNEH
— Vijay sharma (@vijaysharmacg) January 7, 2025
“The Naxals (Maoists) are resorting to such cowardly act out of desperation, but each of their attempts strengthens our resolve further. On the strength of the indomitable courage of our brave soldiers, we are fully committed to eradicate the Maoist insurgency from Chhattisgarh,” said Deputy CM Vijay Sharma.
“This fight is at a decisive juncture, and by March 2026 we will eradicate this darkness of Naxalism and risen a new sun of peace and progress. The indomitable courage and sacrifice of the brave sons will be remembered for ages,” he added.
Significantly, over 1300 personnel have laid down their lives fighting with the Maoists in the state of Chhattisgarh between 2001 and 2024. Bastar, the southern most division of the state remains one of the strongest bastion of the Mao’s men left in the country with security forces augmenting their presence lately.
