10 CRPF commandos killed, five injured in Bihar Naxal encounter

At least 10 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) commandos were killed and five others injured in an encounter with the Naxals in Sondaha jungles on the Aurangabad-Gaya border yesterday.

Additional Director General (ADG) of Police, Sunil Kumar, said three Naxals were also killed in the encounter that took place after the Aurangabad Police and CRPF's Cobra battalion carried out a joint search operation to nab the ultras.

Briefing the media in detail about the incident, Kumar said there was an IED blast yesterday in the border areas of Gaya and Aurangabad districts post which the local police and CRPF's Cobra battalion carried out a joint search operation.

"The reason for their death is the continuous firing from the side of the militants and the second reason was the explosives placed in the tunnels," Kumar added.

The ADG, however, said the identities of the three Naxals killed in the encounter have yet not been found.

"But some arms and ammunitions were recovered from their possession," he added.

Stating that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has expressed his grief over the incident, Kumar said that a compensation of Rs. five lakh would be given to the family members of the CRPF soldiers from the Bihar Government's soldier welfare fund.

"Besides, the dependents of the martyred CRPF personnel will also get Rs. 20 lakh as their insurance money," he added.

He also said that the Naxals took advantage of the hilly terrain and darkness to mount attack on the CRPF personnel.

The ADG accepted the fact that the Bihar Police and CRPF is extremely upset post this incident, but said that their morale is not yet down, adding appropriate proceedings would continue against the ultras.

Kumar further said that five CRPF cobra commandos have been injured in the encounter.

"Two jawans are being treated in a hospital in Gaya and the other three injured jawans are being treated at Patna's Ruban hospital," he added.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh earlier spoke to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar regarding the ambush on the CRPF team.

He expressed his heartfelt condolences to the families of the slain CRPF personnel and prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured.

The Home Minister instructed Durga Prasad, the Director General of CRPF, to rush to Aurangabad to assess the situation post the ambush.