26 CRPF personnel killed in Naxal ambush in Chhattisgarh

At least 26 CRPF personnel were today gunned down in a deadly Naxal ambush in Narayanpur district of Chhattisgarh.

The Maoists opened fire from a hilltop when the paramilitary men were returning from road opening duty on foot, CRPF Chief Vikram Srivastava said in New Delhi.

Acccording to preliminary information, four special police officers (SPOs) of Chhattisgarh Police along with some CRPF personnel were also injured in the attack. The condition of one of the SPOs is stated to be serious, officials said.

The troops were from the 39th battalion of the force and were a part of its 'E' and 'F' companies.

The troops were ambushed near Daurai Road area in the remote district, about 300 kms from Raipur.

This is the third major Naxal attack on the CRPF since the Maoist strike on a force contingent on April six in Dantewada killing 75 of its personnel and a Chattisgarh policeman.

On May 8, eight men of the paramilitary force were killed when naxals blew up a mine-proof vehicle also in Narayanpur district.