In one of the deadliest ambush in the past four years, at least 22
security personnel were killed and 30 got injured after a group of around 400 Maoists
attacked a troop of security officers who were deployed for a special operation
on Saturday in Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh, PTI reported citing official sources.

Also read: What is Maoism? Everything to know about Maoist insurgency in India

“So far, 22 deaths of security personnel have been reported,” said Chhattisgarh police’s Additional Director General Ashok Juneja adding that an exact figure of casualties is expected by Sunday evening.

According to officials, the attack went on for almost three hours after which the injured officials were admitted to two government hospitals in Bijapur and Chhattisgarh’s
capital city Raipur.

As far as the casualties on the other side are concerned, PTI reported that an unknown number of Maoists were also killed in the encounter while out of the 22 security personnel fatalities, the CRPF has lost eight men out of which seven are CoBRA commandos while one personnel is from the Bastariya battalion.

As many as dozens of officers are still missing.

Police also added that the extremists also looted weapons, uniforms, shoes and other ammunitions from the personnel who were killed.

The group was led by the most wanted Maoist commander and leader Hidma– and his associate Sujatha are suspected to be behind the ambush. The suspects belong to the so-called ‘People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army’ (PLGA). The area under attack is an extremists’ stronghold due to the tough terrain as it contains large dense forests and fewer security forces and camps, reported PTI.

The Maoists primarily used light machine guns (LMGs) and used low-intensity and explosive devices (IEDs) to mount the attack.

Another senior police officer said that the death toll is likely to rise further.

As far the leaders’ response is concerned, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday wrote on Twitter that the “sacrifices of the brave martyrs will never be forgotten.”

Meanwhile, Chhattisgarh Chief
Minister Bhupesh Baghel wrote on Facebook that Home Minister Amit Shah had assured him of
“all the necessary help” from the national government against the
militants.