(Image source from: Rajnath Singh Maoists a "national challenge" and announces compensation})

Minister Rajnath Singh today called Maoists a "national challenge" which he said the government has accepted and will fight it.

“Naxal violence is a national problem and both the Centre and state govt will jointly fight this menace,” Home Minister Rajnath Singh said.

On the visit to Chhattisgarh 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.

The Home Minister described the incident as an act of "cowardice and a "dastardly act" of violence.

“I salute the bravery of the soldiers. Our victory against the Maoist is for sure and our operations against the rebels will continue,” Singh affirmed while talking to mediapersons.

"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.

AW: Arun Kumar