- Thursday, April 24, 2025
By: Shubham Ghosh
In one of the worst attacks on security forces in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh which is known for challenges related to Maoist-insurgency, 10 police personnel and the driver of the vehicle they were travelling in were killed on Wednesday (26).
The incident happened in the state’s Dantewada district, one of the worst affected by Maoism in the state.
According to police sources, an improvised explosive device was used to blow up the policemen’s vehicle while they were returning from anti-Maoist operation.
Visuals later showed that a crater was created by the impact of the blast.
Home minister Amit Shah, who was ‘anguished’ by the incident, spoke to Rupesh Baghel, chief minister of Chhattisgarh over the attack and promised all possible help to the state government.
Chhattisgarh is currently ruled by the Indian National Congress while Shah is from India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party headed by prime minister Narendra Modi.
“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,” Shah said in a tweet.
Baghel also tweeted to call the attack saddening and said the fight against Maoists was in its final stage and that the Left-wing insurgents would not be spared.
The chief minister added that the police personnel were attacked when they arrived for an operation based on a tip-off about the presence of the insurgents.
Modi condemned the attack and paid tributes to the personnel who lost their lives.
The latest attack was the worst in Chhattisgarh since April 2021 when 22 police and paramilitary personnel were killed while at least two dozen were injured in a gunfight with Maoists in the Bastar region. The district of Bastar is one of India’s most backward regions.
In 2013, Maoists blocked a road of a 20-car convoy of leaders of the Congress in a dense forest in Chhattisgarh by felling trees before launching an attack in which former federal minister Vidya Charan Shukla and 18 others were killed.
In 2017, 25 jawans were killed in a fight with Maoists. In 2020, 17 personnel from a commando patrol were killed in an attack in Chhattisgarh.
These attacks came despite the Modi government claiming that Left-Wing Extremism has seen a decline in the country. Shah said a few months ago that the aim is to make India free from Maoism before next year’s general elections.
