New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday condemned the killing of 17 security personnel in a Naxal attack in Chhattisgarh. Bodies of 17 security personnel, who were missing after an encounter with Naxals in Sukma district of Chhattisgarh, were found on Sunday, the police of Chhattisgarh state said.

PM Modi condoled the deaths and payed tributes to the security personnel martyred in the attack.

"Strongly condemn the Maoist attack in Sukma, Chhattisgarh. My tributes to the security personnel martyred in the attack. Their valour will never be forgotten. Condolences to the bereaved families. I pray for a quick recovery of those injured," PM Modi tweeted.


Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik condoled the deaths and wished for a speedy recovery of the personnel injured in the incident.

"CM@Naveen Odisha has condemned the dastardly attack on STF and DRG jawans in #Sukma, Chhattisgarh. He has expressed his deepest condolences to the families of the jawans who embraced martyrdom while fighting extremists & wishes for the speedy recovery of all injured," the Chief Minister's Office tweeted.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi expressed anguish over their killing, here on Sunday.

"I am devastated with the martyrdom of 17 jawans and injured. I offer condolence to families of the martyr, and wish speedy recovery of the injured," Rahul Gandhi tweeted.

Of the 17, 12 were the District Reserve Guard (DRG) and 5 special task force (STF) personnel, the state police sources told IANS. They were killed on Saturday.

The bodies were recovered during a search operation in the Sukma forested area around noonon Sunday by a joint team of the DRG, the STF and the Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA), an elite unit of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).

The slain security personnel were part of a group of nearly 600 personnel belonging to the joint DRG, STF and CoBRA team that had launched an anti-Maoist operation from three sides towards Elmagunda in Sukma on Saturday.

(With agency inputs)