A top officer of the force conceded the ambush was an intelligence and tactical failure combined with poor training

The soldiers were providing security for road construction in the area when they were ambushed by 60 heavily-armed Maoists

The Naxals used explosive-tipped arrows to distract the attention of security forces, while attacking with landmines

Calling the ambush an intelligence and tactical failure, senior CRPF officials admit that Rs 112 personnel of its troops of A/E 219 battalion deployed on a road opening duty’ in Bheji walked into a trap laid by Maoists.

The soldiers were providing security for road construction in the area when they were ambushed by 60 heavily-armed Maoists.

The Naxals used explosive-tipped arrows to distract the attention of security forces, while attacking with landmines.

Following the episode, internal security advisor K. Vijay Kumar was amongst eight top guns who travelled on bike to visit Bheji ambush site

A senior CRPF officer told Mail Today, ‘It is not a question whether the forces were following the SOP which meant that they walk at a distance.

‘The Maoists knew the forces would walk right in (to an L shaped trap) for the construction of the road.

‘Even though the road had plains around it. There was heavy vegetation, an effective camouflage for the Maoists.

‘Maoist fired from front and from one side, even as 12 soldiers were killed.’

With 12 soldiers killed, the 100 odd soldiers could not respond effectively, giving Maoist time to loot weapons, and disappear into the plains.

A top officer of the force conceded the ambush was an intelligence and tactical failure combined with poor training.

The deputy commandant was 30 minutes away, the commandant 2 hours away.

Both responded as per top CRPF officer but the ambush was over in first 15 minutes.

A bruised CRPF officer faced loss and humiliation at the hand of Naxals who disappeared minutes after the encounter.

The 208 Cobra battalion that was sent to recover looted weapons, found nothing but the remains of a bloody ambush.

Following the episode, internal security advisor K. Vijay Kumar was amongst eight top guns who travelled on bike to visit Bheji ambush site.

Accompanied by top CRPF officials and Chattisgarh police, the officials used bikes over Mine Proof Vehicle (MPV) to reach the site in order to avoid risk of being a target of IEDs.