Seven CRPF jawans killed in Naxal attack in Bijapur

Raipur, May 8 (PTI) Seven CRPF jawans were Saturday
killed when Naxals blew up a bullet-proof vehicle in Bijapur
district of Chhhattisgarh, the first major attack after the
Dantewada ambush which left 76 security men dead a month ago.
The naxalites triggered the IED blast near Pedakodepal
village on National Highway 16 in Bijapur in Chhhattisgarh
state in central India, 284 km from here, and fired at the
security personnel, Director General of Police Vishwaranjan
said.
Seven Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel of
168 Battalion, including a driver, who were travelling in a
TATA 407 bulletproof vehicle from their company headquarters
in Murkinal to nearby battalion headquarter, were killed, he
said.
One jawan was injured and another was missing in the
attack, the DGP said.
"It appears that the security personnel ignored the
instruction not to travel in any kind of vehicle in the
naxal-infested areas," State Home Minister Nankiram Kanwar
said.
The injured have been admitted to a hospital in
Jagdalpur in the state.
According to CRPF sources, an eight-feet crater was
formed on the 'pucca' road as a result of the blast.
The dead have been identified as S-I Santosh
Chaurasia, Head Constable (driver) Hazarilal, HC H K Ghosh, HC
M Subramuium, Constable Tekram Verma, Rakesh Meena and Santosh
Chauhan.
Naxalites had on April 6 carried out their deadliest
attack killing 76 security personnel in Mukrana forests of
Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh. PTI