CRPF ambush: Rajnath reaches Raipur

Home Minister Rajnath Singh and CRPF Additional Director General Sudeep Lakhtakia reached Chhattisgarh on Tuesday to take stock of situation after 25 troopers were killed in one of the worst ambushes by Maoists in Chattisgarh's Sukma district, an official here said.

The official -- unwilling to be named -- said that Singh and Lakhtakia, who is currently the acting head of the Central Reserve Police Force, reached Raipur early on Tuesday morning.

Asked if the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has sought any kind of clarification from the CRPF, the official told IANS that there was no need to seek any clarification over the incident.

"When such incidents happen, MHA always keeps in touch with security forces. The Ministry and CRPF are in close coordination, analysing and taking stock of the whole incident to take further step," said the official.

In one of the deadliest attacks on Monday, 300 to 400 heavily armed Maoists, women included, ambushed a CRPF contingent in a forested patch in Chhattisgarh, killing 25 troopers and escaping with their AK-47 assault rifles.

The official informed that the Home Minister and the CRPF ADG are also likely to visit the spot in Sukma district where the incident happened.

They will also meet the injured CRPF personnel, being treated at a hospital in Raipur.

--IANS

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