Relatives mourn death of CRPF personnel killed in Chhattisgarh’s Maoist attack

GORAKHPUR/BIJNOR - Family members of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) killed by the Maoists in an ambush in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada District, moaned their losses in Uttar Pradesh on Thursday.

Uttar Pradesh’s Gorakhpur city lost five paramilitary personnel in the attack.

The family members of Praveen Rai, one of the martyrs, who hails from Badrai village, said, they were grieving, but proud of the fact that Rai gave his life for the country.

“I am proud that my son has laid down his life for the country,” said Hanuman Rai, father of Praveen Rai. Family members of Avdeesh Yadav, another martyr, however, felt that the tragedy could have been averted had the authorities been cautious.

“The authorities should not have sent the soldiers without any proper knowledge of the area. There was definitely a fault,” said Suresh Yadav, brother of Avdeesh Yadav.

Similar scenes were witnessed in Uttar Pradesh’s Bijnor town, where family members of Dattendra Yadav had gathered to mourn his death.

“I am proud of my brother, who has laid down his life for the country,” said Promod Kumar, Yadav’s cousin.

Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on Wednesday said that while at the present there was no mandate for the government to use the military or the air force in anti-Maoists operations, the option of using the air force could merit a revisit.

Addressing a joint press conference along with Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh, Chidambaram ruled out the use of the military in anti-Maoist operation, but said if situation arose, the government may revisit its previous mandate.

“There is no need to engage the air force or the army in the operation. This is our present mandate. But if time arises, and if required the Government may revisit its mandate,” he said.

Chidambaram assured the nation that the Government would not allow the sacrifice of 75 CRPF personnel to go in vain and ruled out holding talks with the Maoists at the cost of their sacrifice.

At least 75 CRPF personnel lost their lives in the attack on Tuesday, which is considered to be the most brutal attack ever by the rebels. (ANI)