GADCHIROLI/MUMBAI, March 27 � In a major Naxal attack, 12 CRPF personnel were killed and 28 others injured when the ultras triggered a landmine blast in Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra today, reports PTI.
A total of 40 troops were travelling in a bus from Pushtola to Gatta, about 4 kms from here, for an operational duty when at around 11.30 hours the blast took place, CRPF officials said.
Making a brief statement in Maharashtra Assembly, State Home Minister R R Patil said 12 CRPF personnel were martyred in the blast and 28 others wounded.
Of those injured, eight seriously wounded jawans were airlifted to Nagpur where they have been admitted to Wockhardt Hospital, Patil said, adding the rest were undergoing treatment at the Civil Hospital in Gadchiroli.
The daring daylight Naxal attack came even as CRPF chief K Vijay Kumar was on a tour of Maharashtra and was in Gadchiroli area.
Shortly after the blast, Kumar spoke on telephone to Union Home Secretary R K Singh in Delhi and briefed him about the incident, CRPF officials said.
Two helicopters were pressed into service for evacuating the troops to the hospitals, the officials said. A CRPF reinforcement team besides men from the Maharashtra�s anti- Naxal force were rushed to the attack site.
