Raipur:
Twenty-seven CRPF jawans were killed and seven injured in a major Naxal attack in Narayanpur district of Chhattisgarh on Tuesday. (
Read: Maoists attack CRPF party in Chhattisgarh)
A CRPF constable who survived the attack gave NDTV a first-hand account of how the party was ambushed by the Naxals. (
Read: List of CRPF jawans killed)
"They were sitting on trees. They started firing at us as soon as we took our positions," said Parmanand as he narrated his trauma and shock and the viciousness of Tuesday's attack from his hospital bed.
The jawan, who battled the Naxals as they ambushed an entire CRPF company, also said the gunbattle went on for at least two to three hours. (
Watch: NDTV reports from Ground Zero)
NDTV: You must have witnessed all. What do you think exactly happened and what was going on in your mind?
Jawan: I saw there was heavy firing and damage on both sides. I can't say who faced more damage. I don't know anything about this.
NDTV: You did not know anything about the presence of these Naxalites?
Jawan: We did not know anything but we are always prepared. We are always ready 24 hours because we know that encounters can happen anytime. I think that is why we could give them a tough fight and inflicted more damage on them than they have on us.
NDTV: You have hurt your foot. Where were they exactly sitting?
Jawan: Some of them were sitting on a tree. As soon as we took position they started firing from tree tops and diverted our attention.
NDTV: How many were they?
Jawan: They were around 200 or even more.
NDTV: Were these Naxalites fully prepared? Did they have a strategy?
Jawan: Yes they were fully prepared.
Also Watch:
Distraught families of slain jawan cope with the loss