In a major blow to security forces,Maoists switched  an improvised explosive device (IED) killing many police men in Chhattisgarh.

The IED blast took place when the police vehicle carrying the police personnel were returning from an anti-Maoist operation, reports NDTV.com.

Reports from New Delhi quoting officials said that Union home minister Amit Shah spoke to Chattishgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel and took stock of the situation. He promised Union government will provide all possible help to the state government.

In a tweet, Baghel called the attack saddening and said the fight is in its last stage and Maoists would not be spared. He added the police personnel were attacked when they arrived for an operation based on a tip-off about the presence of Maoists under the Aranpur police station of Dantewada.

Today’s attack was the worst in Chhattisgarh since April 2021 when 22 police and paramilitary personnel were killed and at least two dozen others injured in a gunfight with Maoists in the Bastar region. The Maoists ambushed the forces after luring them to an area near the Bijapur-Sukma border.