Chhattisgarh Naxal attack: Amit Shah cuts short campaign in Assam, 'Nation will never forget jawans' valour'

New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah has cut short his schedule on the last day of campaigning for the final phase of the Assam Assembly elections and returned to the national capital in view of Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur Naxal attack. 

A search operation is underway. Both sides have suffered losses. Our jawans have lost their lives. I pay tributes to them. I want to assure their families that their sacrifice will not go in vain, said Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Guwahati.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah condoled the death of security personnel , and said their valour will never be forgotten. Shah also said that the government will continue its fight against such enemies of peace and progress.

"I bow to the sacrifices of our brave security personnel martyred while fighting Maoists in Chhattisgarh. Nation will never forget their valour. My condolences are with their families. We will continue our fight against these enemies of peace & progress. May injured recover soon," he said in a tweet.

Earlier, Union Minister and BJP’s co-in charge for Assam polls, Jitendra Singh while speaking to ANI, said, “Union Home Minister Amit Shah has cut short his poll campaign in Assam and is returning to Delhi in view of Naxal attack in Chhattisgarh. He is returning after addressing one out of three rallies he was supposed to address.”

Shah was scheduled to address three public rallies in Assam today including one each in Sorbhog, Bhabanipur and Jalukbari.

At least 22 security personnel have lost their lives in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur Naxal attack on Saturday.

"22 security personnel have lost their lives in the Naxal attack at Sukma-Bijapur in Chhattisgarh," said Bijapur Superintendent of Police, Kamalochan Kashyap.

16 out of 31 who sustained injuries in the encounter are from CRPF.

• Assam
• Chhattisgarh Naxal attack
• Home Minister Amit Shah
• cuts short campaign
• returns to Delhi
• Jitendra Singh