Raipur: In a major attack, suspected naxalites on Monday ambushed a CRPF contingent killing at least 12 jawans in Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh.
One of the attackers was also killed in the exchange of fire that followed, according to CRPF officers in New Delhi.
Another 12 personnel of CRPF and Border Roads Organisation (BRO), who was carrying out road construction work in the area, were injured in the attack and are admitted to the Bijapur district hospital.
The ambush came on the opening day of filing of nominations for the first phase of the two-stage assembly elections in Chhattisgarh.
Jawans belonging to the 170 Battalion of the force, who were on a road opening duty, were fired upon allegedly by the ultras, the officers said. The troops, deployed in the area to provide security to BRO personnel, retaliated by opening fire killing one of the ultras.
The attack took place at around 1330 hours between Modukpal and Kongupalli in the district.
The CRPF, which has cordoned off the area, have launched a counter-offensive to flush out the naxals who are suspected to be hiding in the vicinity of the area of ambush.
