Bhopal:
Sixteen people were killed in a gun battle after Naxals ambushed them in the heavily-forested district of Jagdalpur in Chhattisgarh on Tuesday morning, close to the spot where 25 people, including top Congress leaders, were killed in a Naxal ambush last year.
"15 soldiers have been martyred and one civilian casualty has taken place. Out of the 15 soldiers, 11 are from CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) and four are from district police," DIG, State Intelligence Bureau, Dipanshu Kabra said.
According to sources, the Naxals first caused an explosion to stop the 50-member joint team of the CRPF and the state police and then opened fire at them in the Tongpal area near the Jeeram valley at around 10:30 am. A fierce encounter followed for over three hours.
The group of over 100 Naxals outnumbered the security personnel, who fought back till their ammunition ran out. Bodies of all 16 people killed in the attack have been recovered; three injured jawans are being treated in state capital Raipur.
The government reportedly did attempt to rush reinforcements, but the area is remote and not easily accessible. The Jeeram Valley is in a Naxal dominated region about 400 km south of Raipur. In April 2010, Naxals had killed 76 security personnel in the same region.
"The attack was designed at stalling the road that is being built there. Naxals fear development," Chief Minister Raman Singh said. The Chief Minister is expected to visit the site on Wednesday.
The Union Home Ministry held a high-level meeting on Tuesday evening and decided to send additional central forces to Chhattisgarh to ensure elections are conducted without incident.
The attack comes just days after the Election Commission announced dates for this year's general elections. The Naxals oppose the state's democratic process and encourage villagers in these areas not to vote.