Incident Summary:

09/22/2010: On Wednesday, near Sitapala in Balaghat, Madhya Pradesh, India, unidentified militants shot and killed a trooper of the Madhya Pradesh Police’s Hawk Force, identified as Harish Rahgdale, and wounded another, identified as Kamlesh. Six jawans of Madhya Police's Hawk Force, along with Platoon Commander, were heading to Sitapala on motorbikes when they were ambushed by the armed assailants. The surviving jawans entered a village in a nearby jungle to search for the militants, which resulted in an exchange of fire between the police and militants. No group claimed responsibility, but it was suspected that cadres of the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-M) were responsible.

GTD ID:
201009220008

When:
2010-09-22

Country:
India

Region:
South Asia

Province/administrative
region/u.s. state:

Madhya Pradesh

City:
Near Sitapala

Location Details:
The attack took place near Sitapala in Balaghat, Madhya Pradesh.

Attack Information
Type of Attack (more) Armed Assault
Successful Attack? (more) Yes
Target Information (more)
Target Type: Police
Name of Entity Hawk Force Unit
Specific Description Police personnel belonging to the Hawk Force unit
Nationality of Target India
Additional Information
Hostages No
Ransom No
Property Damage Unknown
Extent of Property Damage Unknown
Value of Property Damage Unknown
Weapon Information
Type Sub-type
Firearms Unknown Gun Type
Weapon Details
Unknown firearms were used in the attack.
Additional Information
Suicide Attack?No
Part of Multiple Incident?No
Criterion 1 (more) Yes
Criterion 2 (more) Yes
Criterion 3 (more) Yes
Doubt Terrorism Proper (more) No
Perpetrator Group Information
Group Name Claimed Responsibility
Communist Party of India - Maoist (CPI-Maoist) (suspected) No
Perpetrator Statistics
Number of Perpetrators Unknown
Number of Captured Perpetrators 0
Casualty Information
Total Number of Casualties 1 Fatalities / 1 Injured
Total Number of Fatalities 1
Number of U.S. Fatalities 0
Number of Perpetrator Fatalities 0
Total Number of Injured 1
Number of U.S. Injured 0
Number of Perpetrators Injured 0
Sources
South Asia Terrorism Portal, "Maoists Kill Policeman in Madhya Pradesh," IBN Live, http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/detailed_news.asp?date1=9/23/2010&id=7#7 (September 23, 2010).
National Counterterrorism Center, "One Police Officer Killed, One Other Wounded in Armed Attack by Suspected CPI-Maoist in Balaghat, Madhya Pradesh, India," Worldwide Incidents Tracking System, January 11, 2011.
Press Trust of India, "MP Police Jawan Killed in Naxal Ambush," LexisNexis Academic, Press Trust of India, September 22, 2010.