Posting In J&K Was Easier & Smoother Than Being Part Of Anti-Maoist Operations, Says Survivor

Survivors of the Maoist massacre in Sukma recalled on Tuesday that they were completely outnumbered by Maoists and were down to their last bullets as the latter closed in.

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"We were completely outnumbered, and ran out of ammunition after two hours of relentless gunfight. This led to higher casualties. Guarding Kashmir is easier than being part of an anti-Maoist operation," an injured CRPF constable told TOI from his hospital bed in Raipur.

Recalling the first few moments after the ambush when fellow jawans around him were felled, he said every cover they ran towards turned out to be a death trap.

ALSO READ: Here Is The Timeline Of Major Maoist Attacks On Security Forces In Last One Decade

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"They were in large numbers and they were firing at us with under barrel grenade launchers (UBGLs) and AK-47s and hurling hand grenades at us ... other teams weren't able to come to our rescue because of incessant firing," he said.

Another injured jawan said the firing was so intense that none of the surviving troopers could retrieve fully loaded rifles from their dying colleagues.

ALSO READ: "Proud Of My Son, He Killed Five Naxals", Says Mother Of CRPF Constable Sher Mohammad Injured In Sukma Attack

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CRPF estimates that there were some 300 Maoists involved in the attack, outnumbering the troopers seven to one. Another jawan who has been posted in Bastar for the last four years said his earlier posting in J&K was "easier and smoother" than the anti-Maoist operations because of the hostile terrain and troubled conditions. "It's only by the weapons that a Maoist can be identified. When they approached us dressed like villagers and spoke to us, we didn't imagine they would be firing at us after a while," said a constable.

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