12 CRPF personnel killed in naxal ambush in Bijapur district

     Dantewada, October 20, 2008: In a major strike, Maoists today killed 12 CRPF personnel and injured six in an ambush in Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh.

     When a CRPF party was on combing operation the Maoists triggered improvised explosive devise (IED) and opened indiscriminate firing near Kongupali village of Maddhed area of Bijapur district, about 550 km from the state capital, CRPF sources told the ChhattisgarhTopNews.Com here.

     In that gun battle, 12 CRPF personnel were killed and six injured, quoting primary reports, the CRPF sources said.

     However, when contacted, Police headquarters sources said eight CRPF personnel were killed and an equal number of security forces were seriously injured in that incident which took place at about 12.45 PM.

     Since only today the notification for the first phase poll was issued, including the naxal sensitive Bastar and Rajnandgaon regions, election watchers have attached much importance to the naxal ambush today and also questioned the preparedness of the security forces to deal with the situation during campaign.