<p class="title">Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis condemned Wednesday's Naxal attack in Gadchiroli, in which 15 police personnel and a civilian were killed, stating that the Naxal menace will be fought with stronger efforts.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Anguished to know that our 16 police personnel from Gadchiroli C-60 force got martyred in a cowardly attack by Naxals today. My thoughts and prayers are with the martyrs' families. I am in touch with the DGP and the Gadchiroli SP," he said in a statement.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I strongly condemn this attack and we will fight this menace with even stronger efforts," the chief minister added.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Fadnavis said he had spoken to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and briefed him about the situation.</p>.<p class="bodytext">At least 16 persons, including 15 security personnel, were killed in an IED blast triggered by Naxals in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli district on Wednesday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The blast followed Naxals torching 25 vehicles belonging to a road construction contractor earlier in the day, police said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Those killed were members of the Quick Response Team (QRT) of Gadchiroli police, which was on its way to inspect the torched vehicles, an official said. </p>
<p class="title">Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis condemned Wednesday's Naxal attack in Gadchiroli, in which 15 police personnel and a civilian were killed, stating that the Naxal menace will be fought with stronger efforts.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Anguished to know that our 16 police personnel from Gadchiroli C-60 force got martyred in a cowardly attack by Naxals today. My thoughts and prayers are with the martyrs' families. I am in touch with the DGP and the Gadchiroli SP," he said in a statement.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I strongly condemn this attack and we will fight this menace with even stronger efforts," the chief minister added.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Fadnavis said he had spoken to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and briefed him about the situation.</p>.<p class="bodytext">At least 16 persons, including 15 security personnel, were killed in an IED blast triggered by Naxals in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli district on Wednesday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The blast followed Naxals torching 25 vehicles belonging to a road construction contractor earlier in the day, police said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Those killed were members of the Quick Response Team (QRT) of Gadchiroli police, which was on its way to inspect the torched vehicles, an official said. </p>