Essential supplies were airdropped to a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) contingent in the Naxal-hit Dantewada district after Chhattisgarh Police are believed to have dragged their feet in ensuring safe passage of rations due to heavy Maoist presence.

A camp in Chintalnar comprising two to three companies of 62nd battalion of CRPF, one of which was wiped out by the Maoists on April 6, had their supplies airdropped two days back as the state police refused to accompany the paramilitary force in reaching there, official sources said.

Chintalnar was the site of the Naxal attack which killed 76 security personnel.
The Naxal presence in the area was picked up by the security agencies which suggested that Maoists had laid an ambush and were blocking all supplies to the CRPF camp.

The jawans, virtually facing a blockade, sent messages to its headquarters in Raipur and Dantewada following which a high-level meeting was held.
However, the meeting could not come to a conclusion after the CRPF sought protection from the state police in ensuring that supplies, which also included anti-malaria drugs and mosquito repellent creams, reach the area. State police officials said it was not possible for it to send a road opening party to Chintalnar as heavy presence of Maoists was reported around nearby Errabore.