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Tag: Kuldiep Singh

  • CRPF DG Kuldiep Singh gets additional charge of National Investigation Agency

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: CRPF chief Kuldiep Singh has been given the additional charge of the Director General of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to replace YC Modi, who retires on Monday, a Home Ministry order said.

    Modi, a 1984-batch IPS officer of the Assam-Meghalaya cadre, was appointed chief of the federal anti-terror probe agency in September 2017.

    Consequent upon superannuation of YC Modi, DG, NIA, on May 31, 2021, the competent authority has approved that Kuldiep Singh, Director General, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), shall hold additional charge of the post of DG, NIA, till the appointment and joining of the successor or until further orders, the MHA order issued on Saturday said.

  • Toll rises to 22 as bodies of 17 more jawans recovered at Maoist encounter site in Chhattisgarh

    Express News Service
    RAIPUR: The death toll of security forces personnel trapped in a deadly Maoist ambush has increased to 22 as 17 more bodies were recovered from the encounter site on Sunday at the Silger forested terrain along the Bijapur-Sukma border in south Chhattisgarh. 

    The Maoists also snatched away over 18 modern arms and ammunition from the deceased jawans. “We were able to recover the weapons of two to three personnel who were killed in the attacj,” Kuldiep Singh, the CRPF DG said. 

    The deceased security personnel belonged to the CRPF, Chhattisgarh Special Task Force and the District Reserve Guards. One of the jawan is still missing after Saturday’s fierce gunfight.

    On Friday night, an intelligence-based massive anti-Maoist operation was launched by separate joint parties of the forces, comprising of over 1500 jawans, along the Bijapur-Sukma border from three  different directions in the conflict zone of Bastar.

    The area of operation happens to be a stronghold of the outlawed CPI (Maoists) and the mission was to target the rebels’ Battalion No-1 of the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) and its chief Hidma.

    “Our aggressive anti-Maoist operations will continue with the renewed strategy after the ongoing rescue operation gets over. As per our information, the naxals too had suffered heavy casualties and our sources informed their bodies were carried on three tractors,” said Ashok Juneja, Director General (anti-Maoist operation).

    The officials informed that the troopers were attacked with UBGL rocket launcher, light machine guns and other weapons by the Maoists while they were returning from the operations.

    It took almost 24 hours for the reinforcements that were later pressed into search and rescue operation to reach the ground zero of the gun-battle near Jonaguda village, close to the Silger forested landscape along the Sukma-Bijapur border,

    As many as 31 troopers sustained injuries in the Maoist ambush. “Seven seriously injured jawans were air-lifted to Raipur for immediate medical attention on Saturday while the remaining are admitted in the hospital at Bijapur”, the CRPF DG said.

    “The incident shows the desperation of the Maoists who are now restricted to the small pockets in south Chhattisgarh region. Our fight against the rebels will continue till we achieve a Maoist-free Bastar,” Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel asserted. The CM, who is spearheading the election campaign in Assam, will be returning Raipur on Sunday evening.

    The Maoist Brigade remains most active in south Chhattisgarh, waging the battle against the forces and state for the past over three decades.

    Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday condoled the death of security personnel in the encounter, and said their valour will never be forgotten.

    Shah also said the government will continue its fight against such enemies of peace and progress.

    “I bow to the sacrifices of our brave security personnel martyred while fighting Maoists in Chhattisgarh. Nation will never forget their valour. My condolences are with their families. We will continue our fight against these enemies of peace & progress. May injured recover soon,” he said in a tweet.

  • Chhattisgarh encounter: Death toll rises to eight, 21 security men still missing; Shah speaks with Baghel

    Express News Service
    RAIPUR: The casualty figure of the troopers engaged in the fierce gun battle with the militant battalion of the outlawed CPI (Maoist) on Saturday has risen to eight with 21 personnel still missing in the inhospitable Silger forested landscape of strife-torn Bijapur district, about 400 km south of Raipur. 

    With one team of security forces involved in the intelligence-based operation yet to return, the reinforcements have been rushed to the area and the search operation further intensified.

    The Bastar police stated the death toll had increased to 8.

    Meanwhile CRPF DG Kuldiep Singh reached Raipur on Sunday morning and confirmed that 21 jawans are still missing after the encounter.

    According to the information reaching the state capital, the search operations are being carried out cautiously by the backup force though they are yet to reach at the ground zero where the intense exchange of fire ensued for over three hours.

    ALSO READ | 21 jawans still missing after Maoist ambush: CRPF DG Kuldiep Singh amid fear of high death toll

    On Friday night, on the authentic tip-off over the major movement of the Maoists, the planned anti-Maoist operations were undertaken by various parties of the forces along the Bijapur-Sukma border from three different directions in the conflict zone of Bastar.

    A gunfight resulted between one of the teams and the armed guerrilla rebels who reportedly ambushed the troopers near Tarrem  in Bijapur district. The Maoists carried out the attack when the forces were returning after the operation on Saturday noon.

    The Bijapur incident was the second major Maoist attack inflicting the casualties on the forces during the last ten days in the conflict zone of Bastar.

    On March 23, five personnel of district reserve guards (DRG) were killed and over a dozen injured in a series of powerful improvised explosive device (IED) blasts triggered by the Maoists who targeted a bus carrying jawans in Narayanpur district.

    Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday spoke to Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and took stock of the situation, officials said.

    Shah also directed Director General of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Kuldiep Singh to visit Chhattisgarh to asses the situation.

    The home minister spoke to the Chhattisgarh chief minister and took stock of the situation arising after the encounter, a home ministry official said.

    The chief minister is believed to have briefed the home minister about the steps taken by the state government after the incident, another official said.

    ALSO READ | BJP slams Baghel for continuing campaign in Assam despite Naxal attack in Chhattisgarh

    Earlier, Shah said in a tweet that the valour of the security personnel who laid down their lives fighting the extremists will never be forgotten.

    The home minister also said that the government will continue its fight against such enemies of peace and progress.

    Baghel, while briefing Shah about the encounter, said the Naxals have indulged in such acts of violence just to show their presence as people are getting disillusioned with the Maoists ideology and that the extremists will be defeated.

    A Chhattisgarh government spokesperson said the chief minister told the home minister that the morale of the security forces is high and they will win against the Naxals in this fight.

    Shah too said that the battle against the Naxals will definitely be won as it will be fought together by the central and state governments, the spokesperson said.

    The chief minister told the home minister that people are disillusioned with the Maoist ideology due to the development works being carried out by the state government with regards to health, education and other areas even in far off places.

    As a result, the Naxals are indulging in such violent acts to show their presence, he said.

    Baghel said the state government is not scared of such acts of violence and has resolved to carry forward its development works in every village of the state.

    “I bow to the sacrifices of our brave security personnel martyred while fighting Maoists in Chhattisgarh. Nation will never forget their valour. My condolences are with their families. We will continue our fight against these enemies of peace & progress. May injured recover soon,” he said.

    (With PTI Inputs)

  • 21 jawans still missing after Maoist ambush: CRPF DG Kuldiep Singh amid fear of high death toll

    Express News Service
    RAIPUR: Amid fear on the death toll of the security personnel trapped in Maoist ambush likely to rise further, the CRPF director general Kuldiep Singh arrived in Chhattisgarh on Sunday and will proceed to the conflict zone of Bastar for inspecting the ground situation.

    Bastar police had so far confirmed about eight personnel killed in the gunfight with the rebels on Saturday. “21 jawans are still missing after the encounter. The search operation continues in the region,” he told the media in Raipur.

    Meanwhile local mediapersons in south Bastar reached ground zero at Teklaguda on Sukma-Bijapur border, where the fierce exchange of fire took place, and located several bodies of the security personnel lying on the ground within the periphery of one km.

    As many as 28 troopers are injured in the Maoist ambush. Senior security advisor in the union home ministry K Vijay Kumar has been recently visiting the Bastar region to supervise the anti-Maoist strategy.

    Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel spoke with Union Home minister Amit Shah on Sunday. Baghel, who is spearheading the Congress election campaign in Assam, said that both the sides have suffered the casualties.

    “The incident shows the desperation of the Maoists who are now restricted to the small pockets in south Chhattisgarh region. Our fight against the rebels will continue till we achieve a Maoist-free Bastar,” he asserted. The CM will be returning to Raipur on Sunday evening.  

    On Friday night, an intelligence-based anti-Maoist operation was launched by various parties of the forces comprising of over 1200 jawans along the Bijapur-Sukma border from three different directions in south Bastar.

    A gunfight resulted between one of the teams and the armed guerrilla rebels who reportedly ambushed the troopers at the inhospitable Silger forested landscape of Bijapur and Teklaguda village located on the border of Maoist-affected Sukma district.

  • Opening car door out of courtesy is not part of mandate: Newly-appointed DG on CRPF jawan opening Ranaut’s door

    By ANI
    NEW DELHI: Reacting to an incident in which a CRPF commando opened Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut’s car door, newly appointed Director-General of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Kuldiep Singh said that opening the doors of the car out of courtesy by a CRPF commando is not in the mandate but if it is done as part of security, it should be done.

    But the DG said he is not aware of the incident has he took charge only yesterday.

    “It depends whether one opens door or not. The motive behind the opening door is to see when it is right for the VIP to move out (of the vehicle), It’s part of VIP security,” the DG said when asked about the incident.

    The DG said he is not aware of the facts of this matter but in general, “Opening doors of the car out of courtesy isn’t in the mandate but if being done as part of security it’s important and should be done.”

    CRPF provides security to 69 VVIPs who include Home Minister Amit Shah, Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi, former Congress president Rahul Gandhi and his sister Priyanka Gandhi. Also, CRPF is giving security to 13 people in view of the West Bengal Elections.

    The force last year created a separate wing for VVIP security.

    It happened months after taking over the security of VVIPs like Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Rahul Gandhi and others.

    The wing functions from Delhi and an Inspector General Officer handles it.

    The CRPF had asked for a separate VIP sector headquarter and a range along with a training centre in its proposal.