Suspected Maoist rebels have killed 11 paramilitary commandos on Saturday in a remote part of central India after ambushing their convoy, police said, the latest attack in a simmering internal conflict.

The troops were on their way to provide protection to workers for a road construction project when the gunmen attacked, a senior police officer of the restive Chhattisgarh state said.

The assault is the latest in a deadly conflict that pits the fighters against local and national authorities in the forests and rural areas of mainly central and eastern India.

The armed group, who say they are fighting for the rights of tribal people and landless farmers, often collect funds through extortion.

READ MORE: Indian police accused of mass rape during operation

"We can confirm that 11 security personnel have lost their lives in the ambush which was carried out by Maoist rebels in Sukma district," police deputy inspector general Sundarraj P told AFP news agency.

"Three other CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) personnel are critically injured. We have deployed helicopters to evacuate them."

The rebels also snatched weapons and radio sets from the attack site, local media reports said.

The Maoists are believed to be present in at least 20 states, but are most active in Chhattisgarh, Orissa, Bihar, Jharkhand and Maharashtra, occupying thousands of square kilometres of land.

The decades-long conflict is believed to have cost tens of thousands of lives, with much action focused around the so-called "Red Corridor" stretching through central and eastern India.

Critics believe attempts to end the revolt through tough security offensives are doomed to fail, saying the real solution is development of the region.</s>Eleven personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force were killed when underground Maoists ambushed a Road Opening Party in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district on Saturday, reports said. The CRP jaways too opened fire and it is believed that two Maoists died in the exchange of fire.

Start the conversation, or Read more at The Oak Ridge Observer.</s>Sukhma, Chhattisgarh: At least eleven CRPF personnel were killed on Saturday in a Naxal attack in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district.

11 CRPF jawans have lost their lives in Maoist attack in Sukma's Bhejja, Chhattisgarh chief minister Raman Singh was quoted as saying by ANI.

Naxals looted 10 weapons, radio sets of the killed CRPF jawans, a report said.

The personnel were from Battalion 219 of the CRPF.

IG Sundar Raj was reported as saying that the troops were on a road opening exercise in the area when the Maoists fired at them.

On Friday, a former Sarpanch in Sukma district was killed by Naxalites over suspicion of his collusion with the police.</s>At least nine Central Reserve Police Force personnel were killed in an attack by Maoist fighters in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district on Saturday, PTI reported. They belonged to the 219 battalion. Several others are believed injured. Chief Minister Raman Singh confirmed the news.</s>Nine security personnel were killed and three others injured in a Maoist attack at Bhejja area of Sukma district in Chhattisgarh. IG Sundar Raj said that the troops were on a road opening exercise in the area when the Maoists fired at them. According to sources, the number of those killed in the incident may go up to 11.

The personnel were from battalion 219 of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).

What Else Is Making News

Earlier on March 10, former Sarpanch in Sukma district was killed by Naxalites over suspicion of him colluding with the police. Security forces clash with Maoist and Naxalite militants in insurgeny-hit Sukma on a regular basis.</s>Naxals looted 10 weapons, radio sets of the killed CRPF jawans, the report said.

IG Sundar Raj was reported as saying that the troops were on a road opening exercise in the area when the Maoists fired at them. (Representational image)

Sukhma, Chhattisgarh: At least eleven CRPF personnel were killed on Saturday in a Naxal attack in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district.

11 CRPF jawans have lost their lives in Maoist attack in Sukma's Bhejja, Chhattisgarh chief minister Raman Singh was quoted as saying by ANI.

Naxals looted 10 weapons, radio sets of the killed CRPF jawans, a report said.

The personnel were from Battalion 219 of the CRPF.

IG Sundar Raj was reported as saying that the troops were on a road opening exercise in the area when the Maoists fired at them.

On Friday, a former Sarpanch in Sukma district was killed by Naxalites over suspicion of his collusion with the police.</s>At least nine jawans belonging to the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were killed, while six others critically injured in a Maoist attack in Chattisgarh on Saturday.

The attack happened in the Sukma district of the state. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh told ANI that nine CRPF jawans "have lost their lives" in the Maoist attack.</s>Eleven Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were on Saturday killed when Naxals ambushed a road opening party of the security forces in Maoist-hit Sukma district of Chhattisgarh, police said.

Five jawans were also injured in the attack that took place in the dense forests of Bhejji police station limits at 9:15 AM when a patrol party of CRPF’s 219 battalion was out for a road opening task near Kotacheru village.

112 security personnel were part of the patrol party. The Naxals also looted ten weapons and two radio sets from the killed men, officials said. A senior official told PTI that the road opening party (ROP) of CRPF’s 219th battalion was on an operation to ensure security to a patch on the under-construction Injram-Bhejji road, around 450 kms away from the state capital.

While the ROP was passing through the forests between Bhejji and Kottacheru villages, Naxals opened indiscriminate fire on them, he said. Officials said the security personnel were first trapped in multiple Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blasts followed by ambush with heavy gunfire.

Additional forces have been rushed to the spot and the bodies of the deceased are being retrieved, he added. The injured have been air lifted and brought to the CRPF field hospital in Bheji. A special CoBRA team has been rushed in as a reinforcement.</s>In one of the deadliest attacks on security forces, 12 CRPF personnel were on Saturday killed and their arms looted when Naxals ambushed their patrol party in the Maoist hotbed of Sukma in Chhattisgarh. Four personnel were also injured in the attack, two of whom are stated to be critical. The incident occurred at 9:15 AM in the dense forests near Kottacheru village under Bhejji police station, around 450 kms away from the state capital, when 112 personnel of CRPF’s 219th battalion were out for a road opening task.

Watch What Else is Making News



“This is the biggest attack by Naxals on security forces this year. It is estimated that a hundred-plus Maoist squad was present in the area when the ambush was launched. These are preliminary inputs,” a senior Chhattisgarh official told PTI.

The Bhejji area in south Bastar region of the state is notorious for Naxal attacks and many security personnel have been killed here in the past. It is considered as the last bastion of the red ultras as the area sits right on the tri-junction of Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.

The Naxals looted ten weapons, including six INSAS rifles, four AK-47s, a light machine gun, 1,587 bullet rounds, an under-barrel grenade launcher, a 51mm mortar, two para bombs and two radio sets from the killed men, officials said.

Acting CRPF Director General Sudeep Lakhtakia said the troops were “ambushed by simultaneous blowing of IEDs and heavy gunfire when they were out for patrol.”

“The troops were part of the road clearing party that has been securing an under-construction road between Bhejji and Kottacheru. They were ambushed by Naxals who had rigged up the area with hidden Improvised Explosive Devices.

“Subsequently multiple blasts ensued and firing was opened by Maoists. The squad effectively retaliated before eleven men made the supreme sacrifice. One of our jawans later succumbed to his injuries,” he told PTI in Delhi.

Lakhtakia said Maoists were trying to disrupt normal life in the area as the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has increased its presence here and re-opened a local ‘haat’ (market) last year after it was forcibly shut by the red ultras.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi took stock of the situation and spoke to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who will be travelling to the state shortly. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh has strongly condemned the attack and termed it as a “cowardly act”.

“Security personnel have laid down their lives to free Bastar from violence and Maoist terror. Their sacrifice will not go in vain. I salute their sacrifice,” the CM said, adding ultras were frustrated with development of road network in the region.

He also extended condolences to the bereaved families. The CRPF chief and senior officials have rushed to Raipur.</s>Maoist rebels ambushed paramilitary forces in eastern India's Chhattisgarh state on Saturday, 11 March, killing at least 11 policemen.

The attack on the team of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) took place at 9.10am local time (3.40am GMT) in Sukma district, which is one of the worst-Maoist affected districts in the country. It is located about 450km from the state capital, Raipur.

The policemen were deployed to provide security for road construction in the area when the Maoist rebels "ambushed them", Inspector General of Police Sunder Raj P told Reuters. There are apparently around 100 policemen on duty in the area.

At least four other policemen were injured in the attack, he said.

According to local media reports, the insurgents looted 10 weapons and radio sets from the slain police personnel in the region.

"The ambush was followed up by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attack," a CRPF official in New Delhi said.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter to condemn the attack and said Home Minister Rajnath Singh would visit Sukma district to take stock of the situation.

Chhattisgarh state Chief Minister Raman Singh too condemned the attack as an act of cowardice.

"Maoists are losing their hold in Bastar and hence they are resorting to such violence. A massive combing operation is being carried out in the area to flush out the Maoists. Our forces are determined and capable of facing the challenge", he added.

Media reports also suggested that two of the Maoists were killed in the counter attack by the police forces.

Maoist rebels have been involved in an armed insurgency against the state for several decades. They control several areas in the north-eastern and central Indian states. The rebels claim to be fighting for the rights of the rural population and tribal groups.

At least 75 policemen were killed in 2010 when Maoist fighters ambushed and killed them by detonating explosives and firing from hilltops in the middle of a thick forest in Chhattisgarh.
At least 11 Central Reserve Police Force troops are killed after their convoy is attacked by suspected Communist Party of India militants in Chhattisgarh.