Maoists Kill Seven Jawans in Blast in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada

“The Naxals targeted the jawans by planting an IED, rather than fighting them face-to-face,” said HM Rajnath Singh.

Mangled remains of the police vehicle that was blown up by Maoists with an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada district.

(Photo: PTI)

Video Editor: Vivek Gupta

Seven jawans were killed in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast directed on a police vehicle in Dantewada's Cholnar village, Chhattisgarh, on Sunday, 20 May.

Earlier, three jawans from the Chhattisgarh Armed Forces and two jawans from the District Forces had been killed, while two other jawans were injured. Later, the two also succumbed to their injuries, taking the toll to seven.

Visuals from the wreath laying ceremony of the security personnel who were killed.

Visuals from the wreath laying ceremony of the security personnel who were killed.

Terming the incident as a sad one, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who is currently on a visit to Madhya Pradesh’s Satna, said:

The Naxals targeted the jawans by planting an IED, rather than fighting them face-to-face.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh

Meanwhile, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh asserted that the state will “strongly retaliate against such incidents” perpetrated by the Maoists.

Naxals are against development and they usually target our soldiers. We will strongly retaliate against such incidents.

Raman Singh, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister

The incident took place two days before Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh is set to hold a public meeting in Dantewada. Officials said security would be further increased for the Chief Minister's meeting.

Security personnel inspect the blast site.(Photo: PTI)

According to PTI, the Maoists triggered the blast between Cholnar and Kirandul villages when a joint team of the Chhattisgarh Armed Force and the District Force, in an SUV, was escorting a vehicle carrying material for road construction work.

The ultras also looted the weapons of the police personnel, said DIG (Dantewada Range) Ratan Lal Dangi, adding that reinforcement was rushed to the spot soon after the incident.

Speaking to ANI earlier, Sunder Raj, the DIG of Anti-Naxal Operations, had said that search operations were underway, and more details on the intensity of the blast would be ascertained only later.

Road construction work was underway between Kirandul and Palnar villages in Dantewada.

Video Producer: Hera Khan

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