Cowardly and deplorable; martyr's sacrifice will not go in vain: Modi on Naxal attack

New Delhi: Strongly condemning the killing of 26 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel in a Naxal attack in Chhattisgarh's Sukma, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said the attack is cowardly and deplorable, adding that the sacrifice of the slain jawans won't go in vain.

"Attack on @crpfindia personnel in Chhattisgarh is cowardly & deplorable. We are monitoring the situation closely. We are proud of the valour of our @crpfindia personnel. The sacrifice of the martyrs will not go in vain. Condolences to their families," Prime Minister Modi tweeted.

The Prime Minister wished for speedy recovery of the injured jawans.

Expressing his pain over the incident, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh paid his tributes to the slain jawans.

"Extremely pained to know about killing of CRPF personnel in Sukma. My tributes to the martyrs & condolences to their families. Spoke to MoS Home Hansraj Ahir about attack in Sukma, he is going to Chhattisgarh to take stock of the situation," Singh tweeted.

Resonating similar views, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said he is deeply pained, adding that the slain jawans' sacrifice should not go in vain.

"It is a classic case of mindless killing. There is no place for such things in democracy," he added.

Meanwhile, Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiu said, it was a very sad incident, adding that it was a big tragedy.

The Congress Party also expressed its thoughts and prayers for the families of the security personnel who lost their lives in the encounter.

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi said, "My sincere condolences to the families of CRPF personnel martyred in the attack in #Sukma. We salute the sacrifice&courage of our bravehearts."

As many as 26 CRPF personnel were killed and six others injured in the encounter with Naxals that took place in Chhattisgarh's Sukma.

A message was received by the Indian Air Force's Anti-Naxal Task Force Commander about the ambush of the CRPF team at Burkapal area of Sukma District to airlift three casualties.

Immediately, two IAF Mi-17 V5s of Jagdalpur detachment took off for Burkapal.

One of the MI-17 was flying in escort role.

On landing at the venue of ambush it was learnt that there were eleven mortals remains of CRPF Martyrs for airlift and seven casualties.

Immediately, the casualties were air lifted to Raipur and shifted to hospital. One of the casualty succumbed to injuries in flight on the way to Raipur.

More helicopters have been launched from Raipur and Jagdalpur to evacuate mortal remains of the slain jawans.

The mortal remains of six personnel have reached the Burkapal camp.

The six injured CRPF personnel have been shifted to a hospital in Raipur.

As many as 90 CRPF jawans were part of the road opening party when they were attacked by the Naxals.

The weapons of the jawans have also been looted Chhattisgarh.

Director General of the CRPF and senior officials are reaching Raipur and further to Sukma tomorrow morning.

Bastar Inspector General Vivekanand Sinha and DIG Sunderraj have left for Sukma.

MoS Home Hansraj Ahir will visit Raipur on Monday in the wake of Naxal attack.

Meanwhile, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh has cancelled his engagements in Delhi and has rushed for Raipur where he will hold a meeting later on Monday.

The attack took place on personnel of the 74th Battalion of the CRPF as they were assisting the local population in road building activity in the district.

The Congress Party has described the encounter killing of 12 CRPF personnel by Naxals as extremely unfortunate and called on the Narendra Modi-led NDA government to initiate appropriate counter action.

Addressing the media here, party spokesman Manish Tiwari said, "Extremely unfortunate. Hope government will act with alacrity. Hope government initiates appropriate action against people responsible for attack."