Raipur:
Ten policemen and a driver were killed on Thursday when their vehicle was blown up by an improvised explosive device (IED) in the Bastar district of Chhattisgarh, officials said.
The policemen were returning from an anti-Maoist operation that was launched after intelligence inputs, they said.
Here are the updates on the big story:
Get NDTV UpdatesTurn on notifications to receive alerts as this story develops.
Anguished by the cowardly attack on the Chhattisgarh police at Dantewada. Have spoken to Chhattisgarh’s Chief Minister and assured all possible assistance to the state government. My condolences to the bereaved family members of the martyred Jawans.
– Amit Shah (@AmitShah) April 26, 2023
#WATCH | IED attack by naxals in Dantewada | “…10 DRG jawans and one civilian driver lost their lives in the attack…Bodies of all of them are being evacuated from the spot. Senior officers are present there. Search operation is underway,” says IG Bastar, P Sundarraj. pic.twitter.com/3jebxQkWRH
– ANI (@ANI) April 26, 2023
The policemen belonged to the District Reserve Guard (DRG), a special force of the Chhattisgarh police that comprises mostly local tribals who have been trained to combat Maoists.
The DRG has been instrumental in several successful operations against the rebels in Bastar, a hotbed of left-wing extremism
दंतेवाड़ा के थाना अरनपुर क्षेत्र अंतर्गत माओवादी कैडर की उपस्थिति की सूचना पर नक्सल विरोधी अभियान के लिए पहुंचे डीआरजी बल पर आईईडी विस्फोट से हमारे 10 डीआरजी जवान एवं एक चालक के शहीद होने का समाचार बेहद दुखद है।
हम सब प्रदेशवासी उन्हें अपनी श्रद्धांजलि अर्पित करते हैं। उनके…
– Bhupesh Baghel (@bhupeshbaghel) April 26, 2023
The 10 policemen were part of the District Reserve Guard (DRG)
Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and has taken updates on the situation in Chattisgarh. The Home Minister has assured all possible help to the state government.