NEW DELHI, March 11 (Xinhua) -- At least 11 Indian security forces personnel were killed and five others injured in a major attack by left-wing Naxalite rebels in the central state of Chhattisgarh Saturday, a police official said.
"The incident took place in the Bhejja area of the state's Sukma district when the personnel of the para-military Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were on a road opening exercise this morning. Suddenly the armed rebels opened fire at them, killing nine on the spot," he said.
Among the injured, two later succumbed to their injuries on the way to hospital, the official said, adding that the other five wounded have been admitted to a hospital.
"The condition of one of the injured is serious while others are out of danger," he said.
After the attack, Naxalites looted 10 weapons, radio sets of the killed CRPF jawans and fled in the jungles, local TV channels reported.
"Additional forces have been sent to the area and a massive manhunt launched to track down the perpetrators of the attack. We have started a combing operation in the area and hope to arrest all those responsible for the attack," the official said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to social media to condole the killings. "Saddened by the killing of CRPF personnel in Sukma. Tributes to the martyrs & condolences to their families. May the injured recover quickly," he tweeted.
Earlier on Friday, a former village head in Sukma district was killed by Naxalites over suspicion of him colluding with the cops. Security forces clash with Naxalite rebels in insurgency-hit Sukma on a regular basis.
