The seven Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) jawans killed in a Naxal ambush at Kirandul in Chhattis-garh’s Dantewada district late on Sunday night might have walked into a Maoist trap, police sources said here on Monday.
The jawans were on their way to a CISF base camp at the screening plant number one of the NMDC near Kirandul in a Bolero vehicle when they were greeted with “blinding” gunfire by the Naxals who were waiting for them at a place close to the forest.
Police sources said the intense firing from all sides had reduced the victims to sitting ducks. All of them died in the jeep without even getting the opportunity to escape.
“It sounds unusual as to why the CISF personnel had taken a route close to the forest at night. We are inquiring if the jawans were falsely tipped off about attack by Naxals on the CISF base camp to force them to rush to the spot, thus walking into a trap,” a senior police officer told this newspaper requesting anonymity.
Security forces have stepped up operations against the Maoists.
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Minister slams raman’s stand
age correspondent
Raipur, May 14
Chief minister Raman Singh’s reported decision to “go slow” on anti-Naxal operations in Chhattisgarh, following the alleged “understanding” with the rebels, leading to the release of Sukma district collector Alex Paul Menon from the Maoist custody on May 3, has met with stiff resistance by his home minister Nankiram Kanwar. The tribal minister on Monday openly voiced against “any kind of understanding” with Naxals, saying, “There is absolutely no use in offering peace talks to the insurgents.”