In Chhattisgarh, 16 people, including 15 security personnel, were killed in a Maoist attack today near Tongpal area in Sukma district. Ten jawans were injured in the attack.

Additional Director General of Police (Intelligence) Mukesh Gupta said, 11 CRPF personnel, four from the district force and a civilian were among the dead. Four others, who were counted as missing earlier, have now returned safely.

AIR correspondent reports that a joint team of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and District Police was on patrolling on National Highway when Maoists triggered an IED blast and opened indiscriminate fire on them. Maoists also looted weapons from the dead security personnel before retreating into the nearby forests. The survivors said, the Maoists numbered around 300.

A helicopter has been pressed into service to evacuate the injured from the dense forest area. Three seriously injured security personnel have been airlifted to a hospital in the state capital. Director General of state police, A N Upadhyaya and Additional Director General of police (Naxal operations) R K Vij were reaching the spot.

Chief Minister Dr. Raman Singh who is in Delhi, has cancelled his visit and is rushing back to the state capital where he is expected to hold a high level meeting to take stock of the situation today evening.

Police sources said, the Maoists who were hiding in the nearby forests, also opened fire at a team of security personnel who were engaged in retrieving bodies of security personnel from the spot of ambush.