Nine CRPF jawans killed by Naxals in Chhattisgarh's Sukma

New Delhi: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday expressed his condolences to the families of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel who lost their lives in Sukma blast. He also said that the Sukma incident was 'deeply distressing'.

Today’s IED blast in Sukma, Chhattisgarh is deeply distressing. I bow to each and every security personnel who attained martyrdom while serving the nation.

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.

Deeply anguished by the demise of our Jawans in the Sukma IED blast. Deepest condolences to the families of the brave martyrs and constant prayers for those injured. I am overwhelmed with grief on this loss.

Nine CRPF personnel were killed after suspected Naxals blew up their mine-protected vehicle in Chhattisgarh's Sukma, around a year after a dozen jawans were killed in a similar ambush in the district.

ASI RKS Tomar, constable Ajay Kumar Yadav, constable Manoranjan Lanka, constable Jitendra Singh, constable Shobhit Sharma, constable Manoj Singh, constable Dharmendra Singh, constable Chandra HS and head constable Lakshman lost their lives in the blast.

Officials said the incident took place around 12:30 pm along the Kistaram-Palodi road of the district when the troops of the 212th battalion of the CRPF were out on an operation.

The Naxals used a lot of explosives to blow up the vehicle, a state police official said, PTIreported.

Twelve personnel of the force were killed on March 11, 2017, in the Bheji area of the district and their arms looted, when Naxals ambushed their patrol party.

A few days later on April 24, 2017, twenty-five personnel of the paramilitary were killed in a similar ambush in Sukma.