Seven CRPF men were killed on Wednesday and their weapons looted after Naxals carried out a deadly landmine blast on their vehicle in the jungles of Naxal-affected Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh.
Officials said the incident occurred near the Basaras-Kuakonda axis in the Melawada village when a Tata-709 mini-truck of the force went over a landmine at about 4 PM. All the seven occupants were killed from the impact of the blast.
The troops belonged to the 230th battalion of the force deployed in south Bastar area for anti-Naxal operations. Preliminary reports suggest the squad was led by a Sub-Inspector-rank officer and was moving on an administrative task as they were not in uniform.
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)