700 Maoist rebels ambush, slaughter 75 police in India

Times:

Maoist rebels killed at least 75 paramilitary police in a jungle ambush in central India yesterday in their bloodiest attack on security forces since their uprising began more than four decades ago.

Up to 700 Maoists took part in the dawn attack on 82 members of the Central Reserve Police Force patrolling forests in the central state of Chhattisgarh. The rebels, known as Naxalites, used automatic weapons and landmines to attack the patrol, and surrounded reinforcements who rushed to the scene in the Bastar region — home to India’s largest iron ore mining company.

“It was a flash attack,” one of the seven troopers who escaped with severe injuries, told the Indo-Asian News Service from his hospital bed. “I saw scores of my colleagues in a pool of blood. Maoists were spraying bullets on us.” At least 17 of the troops were killed when the rebels blew up a heavily armoured anti-mine vehicle sent in to retrieve the wounded, the police said.

“Something has gone very wrong. They seem to have walked into a trap,” said P. Chidambaram, the Home Minister, who last year launched an unprecedented nationwide campaign against the Naxalites. “I’m deeply shocked. I’m sorry for those who’ve lost their lives. This shows the savage nature of the [Naxalites].”

...

If the rebels are going to be operating in units of this size, India is going to have to substantially beef up its forces or continue to suffer lopsided losses. It is also going to need to do a better job of gathering intelligence on the rebel forces. It is unusual that a force of 700 enemy troops could go undetected until a trap was sprung.

Comments

  1. Chidambaram keeps ranting from his air conditioned cabin

    what has he done all along ?

    Tuesday attack rattled entire anti-Maoist operation police force. They are reluctant to enter landmine protected terrain

    more at

    http://bit.ly/9TqN97

    ReplyDelete
  2. i do agree with u Subu. Militry operation is not an appropriate option to fight with own people, only viable option is dialogue, talks and right policy making and impelemntation to reduce the sense of deprivation and alienation amongst the tribals and insurgents.

    ReplyDelete

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