In Chhattisgarh, Maoists struck again in tribal Bastar division of Chhattisgarh, killing 13 CRPF personnel and injuring more than a dozen others this evening. Our Correspondent reports that a team of about 1000 CRPF personnel, drawn from various battalions, were on an area domination exercise near Chintagufa area in Sukma district when the Maoists ambushed them. Maoists ambushed the joint team of security forces near Kasalnar.

The encounter is still on and the CRPF personnel are retaliating. A CRPF official said that two officers, a deputy commandant and an assistant commandant were among the dead. Efforts are on to shift the injured security personnel to nearest hospital.

Meanwhile, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh has strongly condemned the Maoists attack.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh has condemned the naxal attack on CRPF personnel in Sukma, terming it as an act of cowardice. Mr Singh spoke to Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh and the DGP of the state this evening and asked them to monitor the situation in the area. He also expressed condolences to the families of the CRPF personnel who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty.