Showing exemplary courage on extremely hostile terrain in the “liberated zone” of Maoists, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Deputy Commandant Diwakar Tiwari, 31, rescued many of his colleagues trapped in heavy guerrilla ambush before laying down his life on April 10 in the dense forests of Minappa near Chintagufa in the South Bastar region of Chhattisgarh. He had been posted with CRPF 55th Battalion, which was deployed for three years at Dornapal in Dantewada.

The security personnel were deputed for a survey of sensitive areas before the April 16 polling for the Lok Sabha elections. A party of 51 security personnel, comprising 45 from the CRPF 55 battalion and six from the state police, proceeded on foot to Minappa village—8 km south-west of Chintagufa—on April 10 to familiarise themselves with the polling site. Visibility was low in the dense forest and movement difficult. When Assistant Commandant Veer Singh sensed that his ‘area domination party’ was encircled by 400-500 armed Naxals in combat dress—locally known as Jan Militia—armed with traditional weapons, he used his walkie-talkie to seek additional reinforcement. A team of 27 personnel, led by Diwakar Tiwari, swiftly rushed from Dornapal on 11 motorcycles, covering a distance of 37 km.

As Tiwari took position, he saw Assistant Commandant Shankar Kumar lying injured at a close distance. In spite of heavy firing from the Naxals, Tiwari rescued Kumar, who lay unconscious. As he returned and made an attempt to guide his troops for an offensive action, he was hit by a bullet near his collar bone, which pierced his lungs. He succumbed on the spot. Ten CRPF personnel, including the deputy commandant, died in that incident.

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