Gadchiroli (Maharashtra): At least 15 C-60 commandos, including a woman were martyred in a blast triggered by Naxals in Kurkheda here on Wednesday.
The attack on the security vehicles came hours after the suspected Maoists torched at least 36 road construction vehicles and two site offices of a road building contractor in Gadchiroli’s Dadarpur village.
Significantly, the Naxals carried out the attack in Khurkheda tehsil when the state was celebrating its Foundation Day.
The commandos of elite C-60 force of the Maharashtra police were proceeding to a place where Maoist activities were reported and were confronted with fallen trees blocking an isolated road in a forest area.
When they alighted to clear the road of the trees, the blast took place, killing the commandos instantly, the sources said.
Director General of Maharashtra Police Subodh Jaiswal said a security vehicle, carrying 15 personnel, was hit by a landmine blast and a civilian vehicle also got caught in it.
“The saddest part is that we have lost 15 of our men… Whatever is to be done, will be done,” he told a press conference in Mumbai.
C-60 is a quick reaction force.
The state police chief asserted that the attack will not deter the forces from continuing their operations against the naxals and vowed to give a “befitting reply”.
“We will revisit the entire thing and see whatever is to be done… Our operations will continue with full force. We have the capacity to give a befitting reply,”
“We have the capacity to handle this,” Jaiswal said, adding “Our effort is to ensure nothing of this sort happens in the future.”
He said it won’t be right to say that the incident happened because of intelligence failure but investigations will be conducted to see how it occurred.
“Whatever needs to be done, will be done,” the DGP said.
The Gadchiroli-Chimur region had voted in the second phase of Lok Sabha election on April 28 and had recorded highest voting, at 71.58%.
Soon after the Naxal attack, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and assured him of full Central assistance to the state.
In a telephonic conversation with Fadnavis, Rajnath Singh took stock of the situation and expressed his deepest condolences to the families of those killed in the ambush.
“Attack on Maharashtra Police personnel in Gadchiroli is an act of cowardice and desperation. We are extremely proud of the valour of our police personnel,” the Home Minister tweeted.
Rajnath Singh also said that the “supreme sacrifice” of the security personnel while serving the nation will not go in vain.
“Spoke to Maharashtra CM Shri @Dev_Fadnavis regarding the tragic incident in Gadchiroli and expressed my grief at the loss of brave police personnel. We are providing all assistance needed by the state government. MHA is in constant touch with the state administration,” read another tweet.
ON the other hand, Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the Naxal attack in Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli in which 15 C-60 and a driver were martyred, and asserted that the perpetrators will not be spared.
“Strongly condemn the despicable attack on our security personnel in Gadchiroli, Maharashtra. I salute all the brave personnel. Their sacrifices will never be forgotten. My thoughts and solidarity are with the bereaved families. The perpetrators of such violence will not be spared,” Modi tweeted.