Combing operation launched to nab Naxals in Aurangabad-Gaya forest areas; Bihar announces compensation of Rs. five lakh for kin of deceased.

Ten CRPF commandos belonging to its Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) battalion were on Monday killed in an improvised explosive device blast by Naxalites in the forests of Bihar’s Aurangabad district. Four Naxals were also killed in the encounter that lasted for nearly eight hours.

A combing operation was launched in the Aurangabad-Gaya forest areas to nab the Naxals.

“At least 10 CRPF commandos were killed and three injured in the encounter… a massive manhunt has been been launched by the paramilitary and State police forces in the area to nab the Naxals”, said Sunil Kumar, Additional Director-General of Police (Headquarters).

Meanwhile, doctors have confiirmed that the injured CRPF personnel, who were airlifted to the Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) were "out of danger."

Kundan Krishnan, IG (Operations), along with top district police officials, has been camping in Aurangabad area to monitor the combing operation.

Some arms and ammunition were also recovered from the site. The jawans belonged to the 205th CoBRA battalion.

PM expresses grief

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday expressed grief over the killing of 10 CRPF commandos in an IED blast carried out by Naxals in Bihar and extended condolences to the families of the martyred personnel.

“The Prime Minister has expressed grief on the loss of lives of CRPF personnel in Bihar. He prays for a speedy recovery of the injured,” the PMO said.

“PM @narendramodi extends his condolences to the families of the martyred CRPF personnel in this hour of sadness,” the PMO said in a tweet

Compensation

The State government has announced compensation of Rs. five lakh to the family members of all those CRPF personnel martyred in the naxal attack.

“Besides, the dependents of the martyred CRPF personnel will also get Rs. 20 lakh as their insurance money”, said Sunil Kumar, Additional Director General of Police (Headquarter).

Mr. Kumar also said that the naxals took advantage of the hilly terrain and darkness to mount attack on the CRPF personnel.

“The CRPF casualty happened because of incessant firing and the IED blasts from the naxal side”, added the ADG(headquarter) while addressing journalists in Patna.

Nitish Kumar condemns attack

Meanwhile, Bihar Chef minister Nitish Kumar has expressed grief and deep condolence to the death of the CRPF personnel in the naxal attack.

Mr Nitish Kumar, who is in New Delhi to meet the Union Finance Minister, has also asked the State Home Secretary, Chief Secretary and the Police chief to monitor the situation.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh has also spoken to the Mr. Nitish Kumar over the Aurangabad naxal attack and got the details.

Injured being treated at private hospital

Among those 10 CRPF personnel killed, three of them were from Bihar. Anil Kumar Singh from Buxar, Ravi Kumar from Siwan and Diwakar Kumar was from Khagaria district.

Of the five injured CRPF personnel, Uday Bhan, Ravishankar Yadav and Panch Ram have been admitted to Ruban Memorial hospital in Patna. The doctors said they were "out of danger."

The other martyred personnel were from West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab and other states.

Meanwhile, the CRPF and State Police have intensified their combing operations in the Aurangabad-Gaya forest areas to nab the naxals.

“The operation will not end until we’ll smoke out the naxals who dared to execute such a big attack on the security personnel in Bihar”, an official engaged in the operation told The Hindu over phone.

He also said that more than four naxals might have been killed in the encounter which had gone for long hours on Monday night. “But, we can not say anything until we recover the bodies”, he added.

(With inputs from PTI)