From Rahul Gandhi to PM Modi: Politicians condem horrific Naxal attack on CRPF jawans in Sukma

Political parties put their differences aside and condemned the Sukma attack that killed 26 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawans, and wounded six others. 

In the deadliest attack on security forces in the region this year, Naxals mounted the assault around 12:25 pm in Kalapathar area of south Bastar region. The area is close to the Chintagufa-Burkapal-Bheji axis, the hotbed of Naxal violence which has seen a number of such attacks in the past resulting in high casualties.

Here's what the leaders had to say

Attack on @crpfindia personnel in Chhattisgarh is cowardly & deplorable. We are monitoring the situation closely.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 24, 2017

We are proud of the valour of our @crpfindia personnel. The sacrifice of the martyrs will not go in vain. Condolences to their families.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 24, 2017

May those injured in today's attack in Chhattisgarh recover at the earliest.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 24, 2017

Enquired about the medical condition of CRPF personnel injured in Sukma. Pray for their speedy recovery and well being pic.twitter.com/9fAgUDqyWr

— Dr Raman Singh (@drramansingh) April 24, 2017

My sincere condolences to the families of CRPF personnel martyred in the attack in #Sukma.We salute the sacrifice&courage of our bravehearts https://t.co/fTx6JOc9hz

— Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) April 24, 2017

Spoke to MoS Home Shri Hansraj Ahir about the attack in Sukma. Shri Ahir is going to Chhattisgarh to take stock of the situation.

— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) April 24, 2017

Congress President Smt. Sonia Gandhi has condemned the attack on CRPF personnel in Sukma by Left Wing Extremists.

— INC India (@INCIndia) April 24, 2017

Sukma,Ch'tisgarh:24 jawans laid their lives
Maoist Attck-Worst in 7yrs
Govt shouldn't back from dev of BackwardAreashttps://t.co/rq4KLVzMGN pic.twitter.com/tfYTYQgFbO

— Ajay Maken (@ajaymaken) April 24, 2017

My heart goes out for the families of Sukma martyrs. Violence in any form is completely unacceptable.

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) April 24, 2017

Deeply pained over the loss of our Bravehearts at Sukma. These sacrifices shall not be in vain. 1/

— M Venkaiah Naidu (@MVenkaiahNaidu) April 24, 2017

Ambush of CRPF men in Sukma is an act of cowardice. I am pained beyond words at the loss of lives. My condolences to the martyrs families.

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) April 24, 2017

Very sad to hear about the death of our brave @crpfindia soldiers in Sukma. My thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families.

— Ram Vilas Paswan (@irvpaswan) April 24, 2017

Condolences to CRPF personnel martyred by Naxals in Chhattisgarh's Sukma. Ishwar give strength to the bereaved families to bear the loss

— Om Prakash Mathur (@OmMathur_bjp) April 24, 2017

Prayers for our CRPF jawans who lost their lives in this violence perpetrated by Naxalites, wishing those injured a speedy recovery. https://t.co/spNCX9RjbN

— Priyanka Chaturvedi (@priyankac19) April 24, 2017

Sukma is the southernmost district of Chhattisgarh, and borders with Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. It’s considered a Naxal hotbed. Furthermore, the only method of travel in this region is by public buses that come from and go to Raipur, Hyderabad, Bhilai, Bilaspur, Vijaywada, Jagdalpur and Visakhapatnam.

Other than buses, jeeps and taxis are also available. While the nearest rail station is in Dantewada, the nearest airport is in Jagdalpur.

The region has been declared a liberated zone by the Naxals, on the occasion of Independence Day every year ever since Leftwing insurgency cast its shadow over Bastar nearly three decades ago.

The present ambush took place in the same Dornapal-Chintagufa area, where several ambushes and killings of security forces had taken place in the past including the most deadly one, when 76 personnel were killed in 2010.