15 commandos lose life in IED blast by Naxals in Maharashtra
Naxalites casued a big IED blast in Gadchiroli in Maharashtra, in which 15 commandos have become martyrs. The driver of the convoy has also been killed in this attack. The Maoists attacked the C60 commando patrol team. In the last two years, it is believed to be the biggest attack of Maoists in Maharashtra. The search operation is in progress. Naxalite activities have increased in Gadchiroli in the last few days.
The Maoists attacked on the team of C60 commandos in area near Kurkheda-Korchi Road. In this blast, 15 commandos were killed. Firing is going on between the Maoists and security personnel at the scene of the incident. A total of 16 people were killed in the blast.
After the Naxal attack on the commandos, many leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis have condemned it.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh strongly condemned the attack on Maharashtra Police personnel and termed this attack as an act of protest. He also said that “the sacrifice of the martyrs will not be in vain. Our deep condolences to the families of the martyred.”
3 weeks before this attack, Naxalites had blasted the IED near a polling booth in Gadchiroli, Before the first phase of Lok Sabha elections on April 11 although no injuries occured in this blast. Earlier on Wednesday morning, the Maoists had set fire to 27 machines and vehicles near the road under construction in Kurkheda in Gadchiroli district. Naxalites carried out this explosion on the police vehicle carrying 16 security personnel.
This kind of attack has been done exactly a year on the C60. Earlier in April last year, security forces had killed 40 Maoists in a major encounter in Gadchiroli.
25 vehicles set on fire
Earlier, the Maoists set fire to some 25 vehicles of a road construction company in Gadchiroli. Gadchiroli Superintendent of Police Shailesh Balakwade said that the incident took place at Dadapur in Kurkheda Tehsil. He said that a group of Maoists gathered at 3.30 am in the morning, where construction of National Highway has been going on for the last few months.
