15 personnel of Quick Response Team (QRT) and a driver have been martyred in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast, carried out by Naxals in Gadchiroli, Maharashtra.
The blast was an ambush, set off on a private vehicle when a team of the C-60 QRT personnel was on its way to inspect a fleet of vehicles torched by Maoists earlier in the day.
It is to be noted that the Maoists are observing a week-long protest to mark the first anniversary of 40 of their fellow naxals who were killed by the security forces in 2018. The encounter happened at Kasanasur where 40 naxals were killed by a joint operation of the C-60 QRT Commandoes and Battalion 9 of the Central Reserve Police Forces (CRPF).
Condemning the incident, the Prime Minister of India – Narendra Modi said, “Strongly condemn the despicable attack on our security personnel in Gadchiroli, Maharashtra. I salute all the brave personnel. Their sacrifices will never be forgotten. My thoughts & solidarity are with the bereaved families. The perpetrators of such violence will not be spared.”
Strongly condemn the despicable attack on our security personnel in Gadchiroli, Maharashtra. I salute all the brave personnel. Their sacrifices will never be forgotten. My thoughts & solidarity are with the bereaved families. The perpetrators of such violence will not be spared.
— Chowkidar Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 1, 2019
Speaking on the incident, Director General of Police, Maharashtra – Subodh Jaiswal said, “We are ready to give a befitting reply to the Naxals. I cannot call this an intelligence failure. The Maharashtra Police will take whatever action needed against such activities. It is a big loss for Maharashtra Police.”
The Maharashtra Police express their deepest condolences on the killing by naxals of 15 bravehearts of Gadchiroli Police and a civilian who laid down their lives in the line of duty. @PMOIndia @CMOMaharashtra
— Maharashtra Police (@DGPMaharashtra) May 1, 2019
The Chief Minister of Maharashtra – Devendra Fadnavis said, “Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has also condemned the Gadchiroli attack. “Anguished to know that our 16 police personnel from Gadchiroli C60 force got martyred in a cowardly attack. My thoughts and prayers are with the martyrs’ families. I am in touch with DGP and Gadchiroli SP.”
लोकतंत्र विरोधी शक्तियों को परास्त करने के लिए पुरी ताकत के साथ हम मुक़ाबला करेंगे ।
— Chowkidar Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) May 1, 2019
इस कठिन समय में, हम सब की संवेदना क्यूआरटी शहीदों के परिवारों के साथ है ।#Gadchiroli https://t.co/S2wSIuKkOr pic.twitter.com/9MZHqNzPKM
Besides, on April 11, 2019 an IED blast was set off near a polling booth in Gadchiroli, during the first phase of the national election. However, no one was injured in that blast. A day before that, a CRPF personnel was critically injured in an IED blast in Gadchiroli.
For the records, this is the second major attack on security forces in 2019. The first happened in February 2019 in Pulwama where more than 40 CRPF personnel were killed in a heinous terror attack by terror group Jaish-E-Mohammad (JeM).
