Six paramilitary personnel killed in Chhattisgarh landmine blast
29 Aug 2008, 1544 Hrs

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Narayanpur (Chhattisgarh), Aug 29 (ANI): Six personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), including an inspector, were killed in a landmine blast in Chhattisgarh's Narayanpur District on Friday.

According to CPRF sources, the blast occurred around 11:00 a.m. as the CRPF team was eading towards Narayanpur from Konda for an anti-naxalite operation.

Search operations have been launched to nab Maoists who have claimed responsibility for the blast.

CRPF Deputy Inspector General R S S Sahota has arrived in Narayanpur for an on-the-spot assessment of the situation.

The dead inspector has been identified as R S Kang.

To combat left-wing extremism in the country, the Union Government has approved the raising of a 10,000-strong special anti-Naxal force Combat Battalion for Resolute Action (COBRA).

The Cabinet Committee on Security, chaired by the Prime Minister, gave the nod to COBRA under the command and control of the CRPF.

During his address to top police brass in October last year, the Prime Minister had called for the setting up of a special force to tackle left-wing extremism.

The COBRA personnel would be imparted special training in the terrain and topography of their area of operations.

It will be headquartered in New Delhi and will have its battalion headquarters in every Naxal-affected state.

Naxalites have carried out several attacks this year, including the gunning down of over 24 personnel of Andhra Pradesh's elite "Greyhounds" force last month. (ANI)