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| India-Pakistan |
| 22 CISF men hold off 200 Naxals for 10 hours, save 150 lives |
| 2009-04-14 |
| DAMANJODI (KORAPUT): For 10 hours, a band of 22 CISF jawans battled more than 200 heavily armed Maoists, without back-up or reinforcements, and saved the lives of 150 Nalco staff who were held hostage by the guerrillas in Orissa's Damanjodi since Sunday night. The nightlong encounter took place in the largest bauxite mine in Asia. The CISF lost 10 of their own and are believed to have inflicted heavy damage on the attackers. Bodies of four Maoists, including a woman, were recovered. Blood trails suggest the Maoists dragged many more bodies away. But the guerrillas did manage to get their hands on a cache of explosives. Two critically wounded jawans were air-lifted to Vizag, while seven others have been admitted to Damanjodi hospital. When police finally reached the Panchapatmalli hilltop in the morning, they were in for a heart-rending sight. Bodies lay strewn. Some Nalco employees who had been held hostage were retching uncontrollably, while others were wailing. They all owed their lives to CISF men. The survivors among the saviours — the three that escaped unhurt and the nine injured — had a dazed look but they still clutched their rifles, ready to fight. Eyewitnesses said they had seen the extremists loitering in the area in batches during the day on Sunday, but suspected nothing. "We thought they were tribals going hunting in the forest since the Chaiti festival is on," said a Nalco official. The Maoists launched their assault in the cover of darkness. A group of 50 attacked the fire station and took nearly 100 Nalco staff, including mine workers, hostage. They herded them into a canteen, snatched their mobile phones, and cut off power. Two CISF jawans were caught by surprise and gunned down without warning. As the first group set fire to some offices, a bigger unit headed for the 'magazine room' where explosives are stored. The 22 CISF jawans deployed there had sensed trouble and taken battle positions. The long night had begun. Thousands of rounds were exchanged between the two sides which started around 9.30pm and continued till 6.30am. Eight CISF jawans were killed. |
| Posted by:john frum |
| #6 Jimmy Carter sez the Maoists are good guys. Ya got his word on it. I'm sure this was probably just their attempt at "dialouge"... |
| Posted by: tu3031 2009-04-14 13:53 |
| #5 My deepest respect for 22 exceptional soldiers who acted above and beyond their normal duties. I hope they all get promotions and a guaranteed, well-endowed retirement. They deserve it. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2009-04-14 13:45 |
| #4 Rorke's Drift in Damanjodi. |
| Posted by: Mike 2009-04-14 10:35 |
| #3 The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) is a paramilitary security force in India. It was set up under an act of Parliament on March 10, 1969 with a strength of 2,800. CISF was subsequently made an armed force of the Union of India by another act of Parliament passed on June 15, 1983. Its current strength is 105,000. [1] It is directly under the federal Ministry of Home Affairs and its headquarters are at New Delhi. The CISF provides security cover to 269 industrial units located all over India. Industrial Sectors like Atomic Power Plants, Space Installations, Defence Production Units, Mints, Oil Fields and Refineries, Major Ports, Heavy Engineering, Steel Plants, Barrages, Fertilizer units, Airports and Hydro electric/thermal power plants are protected by CISF. Most of these installations are located in difficult terrains of the country with harsh climatic conditions. |
| Posted by: john frum 2009-04-14 09:22 |
| #2 Very impressive. No doubt the dead have been reborn as Brahmin boys. May the injured recover speedily and completely. |
| Posted by: trailing wife in Buffalo 2009-04-14 08:21 |
| #1 300. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2009-04-14 07:35 |