Four CRPF personnel have also been injured in the attack.
Some jawans were also reported to be injured in the explosion, but there was no official confirmation yet, an official told news agency PTI.
The encounter started at 8 am on Tuesday between the elite Cobra forces, specially trained to tackle Maoist insurgency, in Kistram area of Sukma.
Here are the highlights from the attack in Sukma, Chhattisgarh:
India salutes the brave @crpfindia personnel who were martyred in the attack in Sukma, Chhattisgarh.
- Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 13, 2018
My thoughts are with the families and friends of the brave martyrs. The nation stands shoulder to shoulder with them in this hour of grief.
Nine people have died in the attack, the injured are being brought to Jagdalpur or Raipur. It is really unfortunate that we lost these brave men: DM Awasthi, Special DG Naxal Operations on Sukma attack. pic.twitter.com/vKmlA3VtOa
- ANI (@ANI) March 13, 2018
Deeply saddened at the news coming from #Sukma. Lives of at least nine CRPF jawans lost. My heartfelt homage to all the martyrs. Strength to their families. Jai Hind
- Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) March 13, 2018
My heartfelt condolences to the families of those personnel who lost their lives in Sukma blast. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured jawans. I spoke to DG @crpfindia regarding the Sukma incident and asked him to leave for Chhattisgarh.
- Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) March 13, 2018
#FLASH Eight personnel of CRPF's 212 bn lost their lives in an IED blast by Naxals in Kistaram area of #Chhattisgarh's Sukma. pic.twitter.com/pg0Z5E53qb
- ANI (@ANI) March 13, 2018
He also added that einforcement was rushed to the spot and further details were awaited.
