Breaking: 15 Policemen killed in Maoist attack in Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli
মহারাষ্ট্রে মাওবাদী হামলায় নিহত ১৫ পুলিশ

May 1: Fifteen policemen and their driver were killed in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast triggered by Maoists in Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli district on Wednesday. The blast near Gadchirli’s Jambhumpada village took place hours after Maoists torched 25 vehicles at a road construction site in Kurkheda of Gadchiroli at around 3:30 am.

Those killed were members of the Quick Response Team (QRT) of Gadchiroli police, which was on its way to inspect the torched vehicles, an official said. The blast took place as the vehicle reached Lendhari nallah in Kurkheda area, the official said. Today’s Maoist attack comes on a day when Maharashtra is celebrating its foundation day. The Maoists were in the final stages of observing a week-long protest to mark the first anniversary of 40 of their members who were gunned down by security forces on April 22 last year.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, condemning the Maoist attack in Maharatshtra’s Gadchiroli that left 16 security personnel dead, said the perpetrators will not be spared. Home minister Rajnath Singh said the attack was an act of cowardice and desperation. He said he has spoken to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis over the incident and the home ministry is in constant touch with the state government. Condoling the deaths, MaharashtraCM Fadnavis said: “Anguished to know that our 16 police personnel from Gadchiroli C-60 force got martyred in a cowardly attack by naxals today. My thoughts and prayers are with the martyrs’ families.