Sukma, CRPF on Friday inaugurated a memorial constructed in honor of its 25 personnel killed in a 2017 Maoist ambush in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district, and asserted that their ultimate sacrifices helped liberate the state from the Naxal menace.
CRPF Deputy Inspector General Anand Rajpurohit dedicated the memorial at the headquarters of the 74th Battalion of the CRPF in Dornapal in the district.
In one of the deadliest attacks on security forces in the history of insurgency, 25 personnel, belonging to the 74th Battalion of CRPF, were killed on April 24, 2017, when Maoists ambushed them at Borkapal under Chintagova police station limits while they were providing security for road construction works.
DIG Rajpurohit said the sacrifices of the fallen jawans symbolize their unwavering commitment to the unity, safety and security of the nation.
“On April 24, we remember our brave colleagues who sacrificed their lives to ensure security for development work. Their courage and dedication continue to inspire generations to come,” he declared.
“Thanks to their sacrifices, Chhattisgarh is now free of Maoists. We pay tribute to them once again,” the IPS officer said.
The memorial was formally inaugurated with rituals and ceremonies, followed by a guard of honor by officers and personnel of the CRPF. A minute of silence was held to mourn the souls of the fallen victims.
Bastar district, where Sukma is located, had once witnessed intense Maoist activity, especially during the construction of the Dornapal-Jagargunda road, which required heavy security deployment. Officials said that many security personnel sacrificed their lives while constructing the road that was targeted by the Naxals.
The sacrifices of these individuals have contributed significantly to improving security in the region. They said the memorial was created to preserve the legacy, courage and supreme sacrifice of the fallen soldiers.
The dedication ceremony was attended by Commander of the 74th Battalion of the CRPF, Himanshu Pandey, and officials and personnel of the 159th, 223rd and 226th Battalions of the force.
It is worth noting that a similar memorial dedicated to the 76 security personnel killed in a 2010 Maoist ambush in Tadmitla area of Sukma District was inaugurated on April 6 this year.
Chhattisgarh, especially Bastar region, which has grappled with left-wing extremism for over four decades, was declared free of armed Maoists on March 31, coinciding with the deadline set by the Center to eliminate the threat from the country.
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