Naxal-Triggered IED Blast Kills 2 CRPF CoBRA Soldiers In Chhattisgarh’s Sukma

Two soldiers of the CRPF's elite CoBRA unit, were killed in an IED blast triggered by Naxals in Sukma district of Chhattisgarh on Sunday afternoon.

Chhattisgarh Naxal Attack: Two personnel of the CRPF’s elite CoBRA died in a improvised explosive device (IED) blast triggered by Naxals in Maoist-infested Sukma district of Chhattisgarh on Sunday afternoon. According to the police, Naxalites blew up a truck ferrying CoBRA commandos on patrol, killing two soldiers.

The IED blast took place at around 3 PM near the Timmapuram village between Silger and Tekalgudem camps of security forces, over 400 km from the state capital Raipur, said an official.

Giving details, the official said an advance party of the 201st unit of Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA)– the specialised jungle warfare unit of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)– was on a patrol from Silger camp under Jagargunda police station limits as a part of its Road Opening Party duty towards Tekalgudem.

The CoBRA personnel were riding motorcycles while their luggage and rations were being ferried in the ill-fated truck which was blown up Naxalites with an IED.

“Naxalites triggered an IED blast targeting the truck that claimed the lives of constable Shailendra (29), a resident of Uttar Pradesh, and driver Vishnu R (35) hailing from Kerala. The truck did not have any other occupant,” he said.

The officer said that more forces were rushed to the spot and the bodies were evacuated from the forest following the blast and a search operation is underway in the area.

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai expressed grief over the deaths of two soldiers, asserting that their martyrdom will not go in vain and Naxalism will be wiped out from the state.

“Received the sad news of the demise of 2 CoBRA soldiers in an IED blast triggered by Naxalites in Sukma district. I pray to God to rest the departed soul in peace and to give strength to their families,” he said.

“Naxals are frustrated with the ongoing anti-naxalite operation in Bastar region and have been committing such cowardly acts out of frustration. The martyrdom of the soldiers will not go in vain. We will not sit quiet until Naxalism is eliminated,” Sai asserted.

(With PTI inputs)