The Central and state government leaders on Wednesday paid their last respects to the 76 CRPF personnel killed in the deadliest Naxal attack on security forces on Tuesday in jungles of Dantewada district.
Home Minister P Chidambaram, who flew to Jagdalpur from New Delhi via Raipur, placed a wreath in front of the bodies of the slain jawans, 75 of whom belonged to the CRPF. One head constable of the state police deputed with the paramilitary unit was also killed in the attack yesterday.
Chidambaram also met some of the family members of the dead jawans. State Governor Shekhar Dutta, Chief Minister Raman Singh and senior state police and paramilitary officers also paid their homage to the personnel.
The mood was sombre as the home minister arrived at the ground this morning in Jagdalpur, 315 kms from the state
capital Raipur. Silently, the 64-year-old Chidambaram walked up to the coffins of the CRPF personnel which were draped in
the tri-colour.
As he placed a wreath, a CRPF bugle sounded the Last Post to bid adieu to the soldiers. A paramilitary contingent
then reversed arms in honour of their fallen colleagues.
The home minister is expected to review the Maoist menace at a high-level meeting with the state authorities.
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