Maoist blasts kill 10 CRPF Commandos in Bihar

PATNA: The killing of ten CRPF commandos in the forest areas in Bihar’s Aurangabad district is a chilling reminder about the growing influence of left wing extremism (LWE) in Bihar’s interior areas.

The incident has also put a question mark on the intelligence gathering abilities of Bihar police. Of the state’s 38 districts, more than 20 districts are left wing extremist-affected areas.

The ten commandos of the CRPF’s elite COBRA force lost their lives in a series of IED blasts executed by the Maoists in Madanpur area bordering Gaya and Aurangabad districts, both infested with Maoists.

At least three alleged Maoists were also killed in the operation. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has sent top government officials, including chief secretary Anjani Kumar Singh, principal secretary (home) Amir Subhani and DGP PK Thakur, to Gaya to take stock of the situation and ensure action against the Maoists.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh too held talks with Kumar on the incident.

The special operation against the Maoists was undertaken by the Bihar police and CRPF, but they probably had no idea of the sophisticated weapons that the Maoists had, and were ambushed, indicating the Maoists had prior idea of the movement of the forces in the area.