17 Orissa cops killed in Maoist attack

In yet another deadly blow to security forces, landmines placed in a road culvert by Maoists exploded and killed...

In yet another deadly blow to security forces, landmines placed in a road culvert by Maoists exploded and killed at least 17 law enforcement personnel travelling in an anti-landmine vehicle in Malkangiri district. Only a fortnight ago, insurgents had sunk a vessel in an Orissa reservoir, killing 38 Greyhound commandoes on board.

Ironically, the latest incident came even as the Home Ministry was discussing the naxal problem with the affected state governments at a high-level meeting.

On Wednesday afternoon, policemen from a local police station and members of the state’s anti-Maoist Special Operation Group (SOG) were returning from MV-41 village after a combing operation when their anti-landmine jeep went over a mass of explosives laid by Maoists. Malkangiri superintendent of police Satish Gajbhiye told The Indian Express that at 4.30 pm the vehicle was passing over a culvert near MV-126 village when a powerful landmine blast caused it to overturn and resulted in the immediate deaths of 17 policemen, including six SOG jawans.

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There were 26 policemen inside the vehicle. Gajbhiye denied reports of Maoists firing at the policemen. “The vehicle has suffered extensive damage. It overturned and they collapsed in the vehicle. We have recovered all the 17 bodies,” said deputy inspector general of police (south-west range) Sanjib Panda.

Deputy inspector general (operations) Arun Sarangi said anti-landmine vehicles can be destroyed if landmines cross a critical mass. “In this case the amount of explosive used must have been high. It has happened it Chhatisgarh and recently in Jharkhand too,” he said. The anti-landmine vehicles, considered a key weapon in the fight against Maoist rebels, are made in Medak, Andhra Pradesh.

Incidentally, the Malkangiri incident came on the day the Union Home Ministry announced a multi-pronged strategy to deal with the Maoist insurgency. Union Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta had summoned the chief secretaries and directors general of police of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh to take stock of the situation and plan a coordinated and concerted action against the Naxalites.

After the meeting, Gupta announced that the Centre had decided to establish six training schools for security personnel, which will provide specialised training in jungle warfare and counter-insurgency operations.

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A proposal to set up an anti-naxal force at the Centre was also discussed at the meeting and, according to Gupta, will be implemented upon approval from the Cabinet.

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