Maoists struck in a big way on Wednesday, killing 15 commandos and a civilian by triggering a landmine blast targeting a security vehicle in Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra.
The attack on the security vehicles came hours after thesuspected Maoists torched at least 36 road construction vehicles and two siteoffices of a road building contractor in Gadchiroli’s Dadarpur village.
Significantly, the Maoists carried out the attack inKhurkheda tehsil when the state was celebrating its Foundation Day.
According to official sources, the commandos of elite C-60force of the Maharashtra police were proceeding to a place where Maoistactivities were reported and were confronted with fallen trees blocking anisolated road in a forest area.
When they alighted to clear the road of the trees, the blasttook place, killing the commandos instantly, the sources said.
Director General of Maharashtra Police Subodh Jaiswal said asecurity vehicle, carrying 15 personnel, was hit by a landmine blast and acivilian vehicle also got caught in it.
“The saddest part is that we have lost 15 of our men.Whatever is to be done, will be done,” he told a press conference inMumbai. C-60 is a quick reaction force.
The state police chief asserted that the attack will notdeter the forces from continuing their operations against the naxals and vowedto give a “befitting reply”.
“We will revisit the entire thing and see whatever isto be done… Our operations will continue with full force. We have the capacityto give a befitting reply.”
“We have the capacity to handle this,” Jaiswalsaid, adding “Our effort is to ensure nothing of this sort happens in thefuture.”
He said it won’t be right to say that the incident happenedbecause of intelligence failure but investigations will be conducted to see howit occurred. “Whatever needs to be done, will be done,” the DGP said.
Maharashtra Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar told themedia that it is “a massive tragedy” coming on the day when theentire state is celebrating Maharashtra Day.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed shock and anguishover the attack and discussed the security situation with Union Home MinisterRajnath Singh.
“Anguished to know that our 16 police personnel gotmartyred in a cowardly attack by Maoists today. My thoughts and prayers arewith their families. I am in touch with the (police) DGP and GadchiroliSP,” Fadnavis said.
Mungantiwar said that the Maoists are “angered by the highest turnout in Gadchiroli-Chimur Lok Sabha constituency” in the recent 2019 parliamentary elections which has prompted these violent reactions. All parties, including ruling ally Shiv Sena and the Opposition condemned the attack on the security forces. (Agencies)