Sukma attack: Punjab announces Rs 5 lakh to martyr

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh today announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh as compensation to the next of kin of the Punjab soldier who was among the 25 CRPF personnel killed in the Sukma Naxal attack.
The compensation amount will be handed over to the family of the martyred soldier, Inspector Raghbir Singh, an official spokesperson said here.
Inspector Singh, a native of village Sathiala in Amritsar district, was part of the 74th Battallion of CRPF, which was targeted in one of the worst ever Maoist attacks in Burkapal area of south Sukma district of Chhattisgarh here.
Expressing grief at the "senseless act" of violence, Chief Minister Singh urged the central government to work on a comprehensive policy to deal with the Naxal problem.

Naxalite violence has escalated in recent years, claiming many innocent lives, with security forces often forced to bear the brunt of their actions, he observed, adding his government would support any efforts to tackle the issue.
As many as 25 CRPF personnel were yesterday killed in an attack by the Naxals in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district.