Sukma killings stall road work in Chhattisgarh's LWE areas

CRPF reluctant to protect ongoing road projects anymore; wants its men for anti-naxal war instead

The killing of 37 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawans during the past one-and-a-half months in Chhattisgarh has taken a toll on the state's road projects, even as security forces have reportedly begun planning a major offensive against the rebels.

In two major incidents that took place on March 11 and April 24 in restive Sukma district, Naxalites killed 12 and 25 jawans respectively. The jawans were providing security cover to workers engaged in road construction in a pocket considered to be the stronghold of the rebels.

The Chhattisgarh government had set a target to construct 698 kilometers