Odisha’s Manoranjan Lenka among 9 CRPF personnel martyred in Sukma attack

KalingaTV News Network

Puri: Manoranjan Lenka of Rebana Nuagaon village under Brahmagiri block in the district is among the nine CRPF personnel who were killed in IED blast triggered by Maoists in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma today.

What was most shocking was that Lenka had joined his duty yesterday after attending the 11^th day ritual of his father who had died recently. He had spoken with his mother over the phone before going for the combing operation.

A pall of gloom descended on the martyr’s native village following his death in the Maoist attack.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik condemned the attack on the CRPF personnel and condoled martyred Odia jawan. “Strongly condemn the attack on @crpfindia jawans in #Sukma, Chhattisgarh. My deepest condolences to the families of Odia jawan Manoranjan Lenka and all the brave personnel who lost their lives in the blast and wishing speedy recovery of those injured,” Patnaik twitted.

Noted sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik also paid tributes to the martyred Jawans through his sand art in Puri seas beach.

My respectful tributes through this SandArt to the brave @crpfindia Jawans martyred today. #SukmaAttack pic.twitter.com/XVle3hw4rt

— Sudarsan Pattnaik (@sudarsansand) March 13, 2018

Apart from Lenka, the other eight security personnel who were martyred in the Maoist attack have been identified as Ajay Kumar Yadav, Jitendra Singh, Shabit Ku Sharma, Manoj Singh, RKS Tomar, Dharmendra Singh, Chandra H.S. and Laxman. Several others were injured and were airlifted to Raipur for treatment.

The Maoists targeted a team of 212 battalion CRPF personnel between Kistaram and Palodi in the district at 12.30 PM and blew up a mine protected vehicle by triggering an improvised explosive device (IED). The red rebels used a lot of explosives to blow up the vehicle.