BSF repels massive Maoists attack in Chhattisgarh
TNN | Jun 28, 2011
NEW DELHI: A repeat of the Dantewada massacre was narrowly averted after a Border Security Force (BSF) battalion managed to foil a Naxal ambush on Sunday afternoon, 3 km from their camp in Kanker district of Chhattisgarh. Nearly 300 ultras attacked a battalion of about 85 BSF jawans on their way back from area domination exercise.
BSF DG Raman Srivastava said, "It was a well-planned and deliberate attack. But we were able to foil it because the men followed standard operating procedures."
Two BSF jawans were killed and four injured in the incident that left an estimated 10 Maoists dead. Officials were, however, only able to recover one body of an ultra commandant. Officials said the commandant had a star insignia on his cap and shoulder and was wearing a black uniform.
That the BSF patrol, who were on an area domination exercise, managed to dodge the fate that befell their comrades belonging to the CRPF whom Naxals butchered in Dantewada has once again underlined the criticality of sticking to standard operating procedures in the fight against a stealthy enemy like the Maoists. The unfortunate CPRF personnel were ambushed by the ultras when they deviated from the prescribed procedure.
The ambush on BSF contingent is a cautionary tale for security forces for another reason: it points to the Naxals' confidence that their guerrilla tactics on a terrain they are familiar with can help them take on the better-trained paramilitary troops. This is one of the reasons for the reluctance of the government -- besides the reluctance of the defence brass -- to deploy the armed forces against the Maoists.
Sources said that around 12.30 pm on Sunday, two military companies of Naxals attacked the 163rd BSF battalion -- that was stationed at Koylibeda — near Sulangi village in Kanker district. The Naxals opened fire and BSF jawans retaliated, bringing down an estimated 10-15 ultras. They claimed the ultras dragged away the bodies during the gunfire.
BSF sources said there were a large number of female cadres involved in the attack. The Naxals had also planted IEDs hoping that the jawans would take protection in the foliage when the attack began. The BSF jawans, however, did not flee for cover and as a result none of the IEDs went off, controlling the number of fatalities. IEDs were also planted en route to where reinforcements could be expected from.
About 13 IEDs were recovered as were Chinese hand grenades, spools of wire, detonators, arms and ammunition. Sources said there was a third military company waiting 5 km away from the attack site.