In Chhattisgarh, at least 73 CRPF and district force personnel were today killed when a large group of Naxals ambushed them in Dantewada district. The dead included 72 CRPF men including a deputy and an assistant commandant, and a head constable of the district police force. Police spokesman and Inspector General R K Vij said as many as 73 bodies of the personnel have been recovered from the site of the attack.<br/><br/>He said the attack is suspected to have been carried out by about 1000 Naxals. The blast was so ferocious that it ribbed apart an anti landmine vehicle. In the subsequent firing by the naxals a deputy commandant and an assistant commandant were also killed along with others. Mr Vij said eight of the injured have been evacuated for treatment from the forest area.<br/><br/>AIR correspondent reports that the death toll is expected to rise as many jawans are critically injured in the incident. <br/><br/>Prime Minister has expressed shock and grief for the lost of lives of 73 security personnel in the Maoist attack in Dantewada. He has the home minister to assess the situation.<br/><br/>The Home Minister P. Chidambaram has expressed shock over the Naxal attack in Chhattisgarh saying, this once again exposed the savage nature of the CPI Maoists. Talking to reporters in New Delhi, he said, the Government of Chhattisgarh and CRPF have planned a joint operation against the Naxals, but something has gone very wrong and the forces walked into a trap set by the Naxalites. Mr. Chidambaram said that senior officers have gone to the area and a report is awaited on the incident.<br/><br/>The Chief Minister of Chattisgarh mr Raman Singh said that the operations against Naxals will continue with greater vigour. Describing the incident as one of the worst in the state, he said in future more cautious steps will be taken. Mr. Singh said that additional forces and Helicopters have been rushed to the area.<br/><br/>Meanwhile,CRPF Director General Vikram Srivastava air dashed to chattisgarh to supervise the rescue operation.<br/><br/>CRPF Special Director General Vijay Raman, who is also the Commander of the Anti-Naxal Task Force, is on way to the forest area. Additional reinforcement have already been sent and search operations are on in the area.<br/><br/>The attack comes two days after Maoists triggered a landmine blast in Orissa's Koraput district, killing 11 security personnel of the elite anti-Naxal Special Operations Group. <br/><br/>