Chhattisgarh Maoist Attack: Injured radio operator critical

The attempt to rescue a Chhattisgarh Armed Force (CAF) jawan, who was injured in a Maoist attack at Temelwada area of Sukma district of Chhattisgarh, and recover the body of his killed colleague turned ugly, when the rescue IAF helicopter was attacked and had to make a crash landing.

Injured platoon commander, Nandkishore Bhadoriya, who was to be rescued, and radio operator MK Sahu who was on board the rescue chopper, were airlifted to Raipur for treatment on Saturday, Director General of Police Ramniwas said.

The rebels attacked the Chhattisgarh Armed Force (CAF) jawans on Friday during the road-opening task in the forests of Temelwada village under Chintagufa police station limits of the district.

While Head Constable Baisuram Mandavi was killed in the attack, platoon commander Nandkishore Bhadoriya sustained injuries. An IAF Mi-17 helicopter was sent to rescue the CAF personnel from Temelwada village.

When the helicopter, having seven people on-board, was descending to pick up the injured jawan of the CAF, Maoists fired at it and injured the radio operator MK Sahu, who was on-board. Sahu is reported to be critical. After the attack, the chopper had to make a forced landing in forests of Chitagufa police station area.

“The injured platoon commander Nandkishore Bhadoriya and radio operator MK Sahu, who was onboard the chopper, have been air-lifted to Raipur for better treatment,” Director General of Police Ramniwas told sources on Saturday.

“Technical officials of the Indian Air Force have reached the spot where the chopper made crash landing after it was attacked,” the DGP said.

After a few hours of landing, the CRPF troopers cordoned off the helicopter and rushed reinforcements to the area, Ramniwas said.

Additional Director General (ADG) of Naxal Operation RK Vij, ADG, Intelligence Bureau (IB) Mukesh Gupta and Inspector General of Police, CRPF, Zulfiqar Hasan have left for Sukma to ascertain the situation on Saturday, the DGP added.

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh strongly condemned the attack and said security forces have to be more alert. He expressed grief over the death of the jawan in naxal attack in Temelwada. He also prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured jawans.

Singh had also called a meeting with senior police officials at his official residence to take stock of incident last night, sources said.

(With inputs from PTI)

Related LinksHome