TeluguabroadThe CRPF administration, in a letter to all its CRPF formations, said that no regimental related to holi will be observed at the battalion, company or any other formation.
About 3 lakh soldiers of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) will not celebrate Holi today. Bhejji, in the heart of Naxal-infested Bastar region, saw 60 Maoists armed to the teeth with weapons and bow and arrow launch a strike on 112 group of 219 Battalion who were deployed as Road Opening Patrol for an under-construction road.
As India celebrates Holi today CRPF jawans are mourning the death of its brave soldiers.
A letter of the force administration to all its CRPF forms read, “In view of the sad incident at Sukma which claimed the lives of 12 precious jawans, the competent authority has desired that no regimental function associated to holi will be observed at the battalion, company or any other formation. “
The force will observe a 2-minute silence as a sign of honor for the martyrs.
A source from the CRPF said, “This is one of the greatest misfortunes. This is an essential festival in India but we cannot celebrate Holi even as the blood of our brave soldiers have been split. The decision of authority should be respected.”
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh came to Raipur soon after the incident, also declared not to celebrate the Holi in view of the shocking incident.
The top guns of Ministry of Home Affairs, CRPF and state police also flew down to the spot to review the condition.
The Bhejji encounter is one of the greatest losses for CRPF, who is fighting Maoists in the region for the last 2 years. The Force lost 12 warriors in an ambush laid down by insurgents on Saturday.
