Raipur, In a severe escalation of violence, Maoist guerillas have carried out a deadly attack on a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) camp in Chhattisgarh, India, resulting in the death of 35 CRPF personnel.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the attack, which took place on January 16, targeted the CRPF’s Dharmavaram camp in the Pamed area of Bijapur district. The CPI-M central regional bureau described the assault as unprecedented in its scale and execution.

The Maoist spokesperson, Pratap, in a statement, characterized the attack as a response to ‘Operation Kagaar-Surya Shakti,’ launched by the Indian government against the Maoist movement. The operation was described by Pratap as an attempt by “Brahmanical Hindutva fascist rulers” to eradicate the Maoist fight for independence from Indian control and the ongoing conflict with the adivasi communities.

During the three-hour raid, Maoist fighters, joined by thousands of supporters, launched an intensive assault on the CRPF camp. The guerrillas used over 600 grenade launcher shells and other Indian-made grenades in the attack. In addition to the fatalities, more than 40 CRPF personnel were critically injured.

Prior to the raid, the guerillas had taken control of the camp’s periphery. Local supporters reportedly obstructed the movement of additional Indian forces by blocking roads with tree logs and placing landmines to target incoming forces. Maoist commander Devalu, battalion member Vikram, and People’s Liberation member Madkam Devalu were killed during the raid.

Following the attack, Indian police and paramilitary forces have secured the area, preventing journalists from accessing the site to report on the incident.