New Delhi, Mar 13 (UNI) Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday asked Minister of State (Home) Hansraj Ganga Ram Ahir to rush to Sukma tonight and review the ground situation in the wake of naxal attack in which nine jawans of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) lost their lives in IED blast on Tuesday.
Home Minster, earlier this afternoon had rushed CRPF Director General R R Bhatnagar to Sukma to review the situation.
According to sources in CRPF, the blast occurred when a team of CRPF's 212th Battalion was patrolling in a forest in Kistaram area of Sukma and nine personnel of this Battalion were killed in the IED blast, suspected to be triggered by the Maoists.
The security men were on patrolling of the area for area-domination operation in the forest of Kistaram.
Mr Singh also spoke to Chhattisgarh Chief Minster Dr Raman Singh today over the incident.
This was the second encounter on Tuesday. Earlier in the day, the CRPF had another brush with the ultras who had to beat a retreat after heavy retaliation by the 208 Battalion of the force.
Later around 1245 hours, the Maoists targeted the patrolling team of 212 Battalion. Soon after the incident, reinforcements were rushed to the spot, an official said.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh strongly condemned the attack. “My heart-felt condolences to the families of those personnel who lost their lives in Sukma blast. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured jawans,' he said in a tweet.
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