Here Is What We Know So Far About The Maoist Attack In Chhattisgarh's Dantewada That Killed Ten Policemen And One Civilian

On Wednesday (April 26), Maoists conducted an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast in the Dantewada district of Chattisgarh, killing 11 people including 10 District Reserve Guard (DRG) personnel and a driver.

Here is what we know so far of the blast.

The DRG personnel were traveling in a rented, unprotected civilian van to an area controlled by the Aranpur police station based on information about the presence of Naxals in the area.

During their return from the area in an unprotected civilian van, the Maoists detonated a significant amount of explosives, destroying the van.

According to a report by the NDTV, the blast might have been conducted using more than 50 kg of explosives, which may have flung the van more than 20 feet in the air.

The explosion created a large crater that spans the entire width of the road due to the significant amount of explosives used in the attack.

Additional forces have been dispatched to the area to search for the Maoists, who reportedly fled to the nearby jungle, said Chattisgarh's Home Minister, Tamradhwaj Sahu.

The Prime Minister Narendra Modi has strongly condemned the attack and tweeted, "Strongly condemn the attack on the Chhattisgarh police in Dantewada. I pay my tributes to the brave personnel we lost in the attack. Their sacrifice will always be remembered. My condolences to the bereaved families".

The Home Minister Amit Shah has also spoken to the Chattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupendra Bhagel and offered his condolences and has assured all possible assitance to the state government.

Chattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupendra Bhagel has also condemned the attack and said, "There is such information with us. It is very saddening. My condolences to the bereaved families. This fight is in its last stage. Naxals won't be spared".

The Chief Minister tweeted, "The news of the martyrdom of our 10 DRG jawans and a driver due to IED blast on the DRG force which had arrived for anti-Naxal operation on the information of the presence of Maoist cadre under Aranpur police station area of Dantewada is very sad. We all the people of the state pay our respects to him. We all share in the grief of their families. May their soul rest in peace".