15 jawans martyred in IED blasts in Gadchiroli
Gadchiroli, (MH),May 01:
Fifteen security personnel were martyred and a driver of a private vehicle killed in a high-intensity land-mine blast at Jambhulkheda, in Kurkheda taluka of Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli district this afternoon.
According to officials, the Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast occurred when the Jawans- mostly the members of the Quick Response Team (QRT) of Gadchiroli police were on their way to inspect the vehicles torched by Naxalites last night at Dadapur.
Around 150 heavily armed Naxalite, late last night reached Dadapur and first stuck anti-government pamphlets and bills all over the area and later torched parked vehicles and other road-construction machinery. This blaze burnt 36 vehicles which included 11 Tippers, a Tar spreading vehicle, Diesel and petrol tankers, and large road-rollers besides high-voltage generator and two offices.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has condemned the attack and said the sacrifice of the martyred will not go in vain. He stated that Naxal menace will be fought with stronger efforts. The Chief Minister also said that Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has assured complete assistance from central government.
Maharashtra Director General of Police Subodh Kumar Jaiswal said that the Naxal attack in Gadchiroli was not a result of intelligence failure. Terming it a big loss for the police force, Jaiswal said that police are ready to give a befitting reply to the Naxals.
Maharashta Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao cancelled the Maharashtra Day events scheduled to take place at the Raj Bhavan in Mumbai this evening. A statement issued by the Raj Bhavan informed that the reception and the programmes were cancelled as a mark of respect for the police personnel, who lost their lives in the Naxal attack in Gadchiroli district.
Expressing anguish over the Gadchiroli Naxal attack Shiv Sena, an alliance partner in the BJP-led governments at the Centre and Maharashtra said the incident seems to be a threat to democracy. Condemning the incident, Sena spokesperson Neelam Gorhe said that it is sad to see such dastardly attack taking place on Foundation Day of Maharashtra state.
Opposition parties including Congress and NCP also condemned the attack.