Sukma: In one of the deadliest attacks, at least 25 CRPF personnel were killed and six wounded in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district by 300 to 400 heavily-armed Maoists, with majority of the attackers being women.

The 74th battalion of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) came under the fierce attack at 12:30 pm on Friday in Kalapathar area of south Bastar region.

The CRPF jawans were a part of the road opening party.

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.

The CRP men who survived the horror said the attackers used hand grenades, automatic rifles and rocket launchers as they launched the attack "from all sides".

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the attack on CRPF personnel in Chhattisgarh was a cowardly and deplorable act by the Maoists.

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

An unidentified jawan told PTI that "The Naxals first sent villagers to check our position... I also saw some women Naxals. They were all wearing black uniforms and had sophisticated weapons like the AK series assualt rifles."

75 CRPF personnel and a Chhattisgarh police official were killed in the deadliest naxal attack in adjoining Dantewada district on April 6, 2010.