Hidima led group behind Sukma attack: Intelligence agencies

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh paying tribute to CRPF jawans killed in the naxal attack in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district, in Raipur on Tuesday. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government only believe in "jumlas" and have been indulging in it since May 2014", he said. Six others were critically injured and evacuated by helicopter to Raipur, where Home Minister Rajnath Singh visited them in hospital today. The CRPF personnel were guarding a group of construction workers building a road in the area when the ambush took place.

Twelve CRPF men were killed in a similar Maoist attack in Sukma early this year.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said that the Centre and state government would work together to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to book.

"If we are so serious and if we are so committed to handling terrorism, we should be serious about handling the challenge on the border as well as from our own homegrown terrorists", she said.

He said it was extremely concerning that Congress was playing politics over the dastardly Maoist attack in which 25 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawans laid supreme sacrifice for the country. He also threatened tough action against the rebels of they continue to attack security forces.

He also said that Maoists were using tribals as fodder.

"The Maoists know that development is limiting the space for them".

He is also suspected to be behind the March 11 attack in Sukma district of Chhattisgarh. "When we stopped him, he replied he had come to attend the natures call", Malik said, adding that villagers usually visit the forest in the region for picking up Mahua fruits and tendu leaves.

The CRPF, whose primary role lies in assisting the State and Union Territories in police operations to maintain law and order and counter insurgency, remains headless for nearly two months now with the government yet to appoint its regular Director General (DG). "They even dismembered private parts of some of the slain soldiers, displaying extreme cruelty", said a senior COBRA official who was amongst the first to reach the spot.

The two officers will stay in Chhattisgarh till a robust anti-Naxal operation is carried out against those involved in the killing of 25 CRPF personnel on Monday, official sources said.

"I have seen the mutilated bodies".

The paramilitary force said in a statement issued in New Delhi, "The CRPF troops replied in a befitting manner but taking geographical position in (sic) their advantage".