SPOs risked lives to save people from Naxals in Dantewada

As Naxals killed with impunity innocent bus passengers in Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh, a few brave policemen risked their lives to drive the injured to nearby hospitals while taking on the outlaws at other end.

As Naxals killed with impunity innocent bus passengers in Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh, a few brave policemen risked their lives to drive the injured to nearby hospitals while taking on the outlaws at other end.

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When the blast occurred, the bus was tossed in the air and its rear end was completely damaged. Some passengers were blown in to pieces, and some were thrown off the vehicle, said Special Police Officer (SPO), Vatti, who was travelling in the bus when the explosion took place, leaving 35 dead.

"I was lying there when four AK-47 wielding gunmen started firing. At this moment some other SPOs armed with INSAS rifles came over there. We retaliated and forced them to retreat. I was drenched with blood and felt that my end is near," said Vatti, now undergoing treatment at a hospital in Sukama.

Inspector General R K Vij said had the SPOs not retaliated, the casualties would have risen and the Naxals would also have looted police weapons.

Many injured SPOs, carrying automatic rifles, battled the outlaws. Help came in the form of some more SPOs and jawans, who arrived in a vehicle, and encircled the injured ensuring that the Naxals could cause no further damage, Vij said.

"As Naxals fled, an SPO present there stopped a jeep and asked the driver to take the injured to nearby hospitals in Sukama. Scared, the driver didn't agree...he then himself drove the vehicle, thus saving many lives," Vij said.