Mumbai: Fifteen policemen and their driver were killed in Gadchiroli on Wednesday after a powerful improvised explosive device, detonated by Maoists, blew up their vehicle.
The private vehicle of a team of the C-60 Quick Response Team of the Gadchiroli Police was on way to inspect a fleet of vehicles gutted by Maoists earlier in the day, when it was targeted. The attack came just when Maharashtra Day was being celebrated. The Maoists, in turn, were through with a week-long protest to mark the first anniversary of 40 of their members who were gunned down by security forces on April 22 last year.
This was one of the biggest anti-Maoist operations in Maharashtra and planned by C-60 commandos of the Gadchiroli police. Incidentally, Gadchiroli had voted in the first phase on April 11.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi termed the attack as “despicable” and said that the “perpetrators of such violence will not be spared”. The blast took place hours after Maoists torched 25 vehicles at a road construction site. In Mumbai, Maharashtra Director General of Police Subodh Kumar Jaiswal told reporters that the attack was not on account of intelligence failure.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis about the incident. “We are providing all assistance needed by the state government. MHA is in constant touch with the state administration,” he tweeted, condoling the deaths.
Fadnavis condemned the Naxal attack, stating that the menace will be fought with more robust efforts. “Anguished to know that our 16 police personnel from Gadchiroli C-60 force got martyred in a cowardly attack by Naxals. My thoughts and prayers are with the martyrs’ families. I am in touch with the DGP and the Gadchiroli SP,” he said in a statement.
Fadnavis, who holds the home portfolio, immediately got flak and NCP leader Sharad Pawar demanded he should step down. “Those who feel shame of conscience, if not shame of public opinion, would have resigned. But people who are in power are not going to do so,” Pawar tweeted.
BJP minister Vinod Tawde accused Pawar of playing politics over the attack. “Pawar is talking on the lines of Naxals,” he added. Maharashtra Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao cancelled the reception and cultural programme organised at the Raj Bhavan on the occasion of Maharashtra Day.
