In a move that has both symbolic and strategic value,the Chhattisgarh Police and the CRPF hoisted the national flag and celebrated the Independence Day at Tadmetla,a village in Sukma district where Maoists had killed 75 cops of CRPF and one of the state police in April 2010,inflicting the biggest ever single-day casualty on security forces. The area remains mostly out of bounds as the nearest police post is 10 km away in Chintalnar. The forces organised a Guard of Honour at the spot for the deceased personnel and later held a medical camp for local tribals in the village. The police and the CRPF rarely venture here,patrols just touch the village only a few times in a year. The village has generally been a no go area for security forces. This is the first time that such a ceremony was held here, said IG CRPF (Chhattisgarh) H S Siddhu. He was among the senior officers present during the occasion.
