|
Naxal violence : 25 killed in Chhattisgarh |
 |
In a massive ambush, Maoists killed at least 25 tribal people and kidnapped scores of others in the interior areas of Dantewara district in Chhattisgarh on Tuesday, Feb. 28. At least 40 others were injured in the attack. According to police sources, three truckloads of tribals were returning from a four-day meet at Dornapal village in South Bastar, when they came under attack. One truck was blown up by a landmine, and the other two were set on fire. After the attack, the Naxals melted away into the surrounding forests. The Union and State governments, rattled by the attack, rushed defence helicopters from Delhi and Raipur to Dantewara. Chief Minister Raman Singh also rushed to Bastar.
About 4000 tribals too converged on Konta town where almost all the top police and administration authorities are camping. The incident drew widespread condemnation. Congress president Sonia Gandhi expressed anguish at the wanton act of violence, and urged the Centre and the state to jointly fight this menace. The state administration described the attack as an “act of cowardice.”
The massacre comes after a series of deadly attacks mounted by the extremists in Chhattisgarh in which more than 24 security personnel, including nine from the Nagaland Armed Police, were gunned down.
After the gruesome attack by Naxals in Chhattisgarh, the neighbouring states of Maharashtra and Orissa have stepped up security along the border areas.
In West Bengal, six policemen were killed in a Maoist mine attack in West Midnapore district on February 26. The Maoists blew up the jeep in which the policemen were traveling. There are three Maoist affected districts in West Bengal. Eighteen police personnel have been killed in Maoist attacks in West Bengal so far.
|
