CRPF officer killed, 8 commandos injured in Maoist IED blast

A TEAM OF THE COBRA AND POLICE WAS OUT FOR ANTI-MAOIST OPS WHEN THE BLAST OCCURRED

RAIPUR: An Assistant Commandant of Central Reserve Police Force’s (CRPF) CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action) was killed and eight others were injured i n an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast triggered by Maoists in Talmetala area of Sukma district on Saturday night.

Inspector General of Police (IG) Bastar, Sunderaj P, said a team of 206 CoBRA along with the district police was out for anti-Maoist operations on Saturday night when nine personnel, including two senior officials, were injured in an IED blast planned by the Maoists.

The IG said that the incident took place near Arabraj Metta hills, which is 9km north-west of Chitagufa police station and 6km west of Burkapal base camp. “All nine injured were airlifted to Raipur at around 12.45am and were admitted in a hospital. On Sunday morning, an assistant commandant, Nitin Bhalerao, who sustained serious injured died in the hospital,” said the IG.

Another officer, second in command, Dinesh Kumar Singh, along with other CoBRA personnel are admitted in the hospital.

Assistant commandant Bhalerao, who breathed his last at 3.30am on Sunday in Raipur, belonged to Nasik in Maharashtra. Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel condemned the incident and paid tributes to the Bhalerao. The CM attended the wreath-laying ceremony along with senior officers of CRPF and state police.

“The condition of eight others admitted in a hospital is said to be stable,” added IG Bastar.

The team was scouting the area for the proposed induction of some new battalions of the Central Reserve Police Force and establishment of their new camps in this area and that is when the IED went off, an official told PTI on condition of anonymity.