Following the deadly naxal attack in Chhattisgarh, a high alert was sounded in three districts of Odisha on Wednesday soon after Maoist attack claimed the lives of 11 people, including 10 policemen, in neighbouring Chhattisgarh.
As per Odisha Police officials, all the security personnel have been asked to remain cautious and an alert has been issued for the districts of Malkangiri, Koraput and Nabarangpur which share border with Chhattisgarh.
The security personnel belonged to the District Reserve Guard (DRG), a special force of the Chhattisgarh police that comprises mostly local tribals who have been trained to combat Maoists. The DRG has been instrumental in several successful operations against the rebels in Bastar, a hotbed of left-wing extremism.
It may be noted here that Maoists triggered a blast and blew up the vehicle of the District Reserve Guards (DRG) with an improvised explosive device (IED) near Dantewada on Wednesday. Ten personnel of Chhattisgarh’s DRG and the driver of the vehicle were killed in the incident.
The incident took place under Aranpur police station limits when a team of the state police’s District Reserve Guard (DRG) was returning after an anti-Naxalite operation, a senior official said.
The area is located around 450 km from state capital Raipur.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah also spoke with Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and assured all possible help to the state.
“Anguished by the cowardly attack on the Chhattisgarh police at Dantewada. Have spoken to Chhattisgarh’s Chief Minister and assured all possible assistance to the state government. My condolences to the bereaved family members of the martyred Jawans,” tweeted Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
BJP National Vice-President, Baijayant Panda also condemned the naxal attack in Chhattisgarh.
“I am deeply grieved at the ghastly Naxal attack in Dantewada (Chhattisgarh) in which many of our bravehearts have lost their lives,” tweeted Panda.
