Chhattisgarh Naxal Attack: 2 Jawans From Assam Martyred

Two of the 22 jawans who were killed in an encounter with Naxals in Chhattisgarh on Saturday hailed from Assam.

The jawans have been identified as Bablu Rabha from Dudhnoi and Dilip Kumar Das from Bajali. Both the jawans belonged to the elite unit of CRPF — CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action).

Das is survived by his wife and two daughters. He has served as a jawan since March 2001.

Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal and cabinet minister Himanta Biswa Sarma condoled the martyrs' deaths.

Heartfelt tributes to CRPF jawan from Assam's Dudhnoi, Bablu Rabha, who attained martyrdom while bravely fighting against the Maoists in Chhattisgarh.

The whole nation stands behind the bereaved family of Swahid Bablu Rabha in this hour of extreme grief. My sincere condolences. pic.twitter.com/RKk9taqREQ

— Sarbananda Sonowal (@sarbanandsonwal) April 4, 2021

I bow down to our bravehearts who attained veergati fighting Maoists in Chhattisgarh. Praying for the speedy recovery of the injured.

My condolences to the family of Assam's proud son Shaheed Bablu Rabha who laid down his life in the call of duty 🙏

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) April 4, 2021

Bodies of 17 of the 18 jawans have been recovered from the site of the skirmish, police said on Sunday.

Eighteen jawans were missing after five security personnel were killed and 32 others injured in a forest along the border between Bijapur and Sukma districts in Chhattisgarh.

The dead include personnel from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action), the District Reserve Guard (DRG), and the Special Task Force (STF) were involved in the operation launched from five places – Tarrem, Usoor and Pamed (in Bijapur), and Minpa and Narsapuram (in Sukma).

With inputs from PTI and TOI.