Home Minister Rajnath Singh today called Maoists a "national challenge" which he said the government has accepted and will fight it.
On a day-long visit to Chhattisgarh, a day after Maoists killed 14 CRPF personnel in Sukma district, he also announced a compensation of Rs 38 lakh each to the kin of victims of the Naxal ambush and Rs 65,000 each to the injured.
"It is a national challenge and we have accepted it. The country has to take on it unitedly. We will succeed in tackling the menace," Singh told reporters here at the headquarters of the 4th battalion of Chhattisgarh Armed Force.
The Home Minister described the incident as an act of "cowardice and a "dastardly act" of violence.
Singh said the operation against the Naxals was going on for the past 15 days in Sukma and every time an operation is carried out it is full of risk.
The Home Minister was present at a ceremony where the soliders were paid the last respects.
"In the incident, 14 security personnel were martyred and 15 jawans injured. The injured are undergoing treatment at a private hospital here and all of them are out of danger now. Arrangements are being made to send the body of martyred security personnel to their homes," he said.
Singh said it was an "irreparable" loss but the government is fully concerned towards the family of the slain CRPF personnel.
Rs 38 lakh each will be given to the next of kin of the deceased while injured will be provided Rs 65,000 beside free medical treatment, he said.
