Mumbai, May 1: Maharashtra Governor C Vidyasagar Rao on Wednesday called off the grand reception planned in the evening on the occasion of Maharashtra Day 2019. The decision was taken in the aftermath of the naxal attack in Gadchiroli, which left 15 security personnel and their driver dead. Gadchiroli: 15 Commandos, Driver Killed in IED Blast by Naxals

The deceased policemen were members of the elite C-60 Commando, an anti-Maoist squad of the Gadchiroli police. They were targeted using the improvised explosive device (IED) by the militants.

The fatal attack drew sharp reaction from the political leaders, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi assuring that none among the perpetrators of the heinous crime would be spared.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh also reiterated that the martyrdom of the 15 jawans would not go in vain.

The Congress, while expressing deep anguish and disappointment over the killing of the security personnel, also raised questions over the "tall security claims" of PM Modi.

Senior party leader Ahmed Patel said the country needs preventive action, accountability for this failure and not "jumlas" (rhetoric) and lectures.

"Once again terrorists have targeted the convoys of our jawans. Clearly despite their tall talk no lessons from Pulwama have been learnt. It is a wake-up call for state and central governments," he said, referring to the terror strike in Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir in February in which 40 CRPF jawans were killed by a Jaish-e-Mohammed suicide attacker.

Congress's chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala, in a tweet, said: "Strongly condemn the attack on C-60 Commandos in Gadchiroli. My condolences to their families. Their sacrifice would not go in vain."

Over 390 jawans have been killed in Naxal attacks in the past five years that expose hollow claims of of securing India by the Modi government, he said.

(With PTI inputs)

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 01, 2019 04:46 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).