Indian Maoists in fierce battle
A fierce gun battle between Maoist insurgents and security forces has
taken place in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh, police say.They
say that at least seven Maoists were killed in the fight, and one
paramilitary soldier.
The clashes happened during an operation to remove more than 100
insurgents from a forest.Thousands of people have died in the Maoist
insurgency since it began in the 1960s as a backlash against poverty.
Chhattisgarh police chief RK Vij told the AFP news agency that more
casualties were likely after an intense battle in the jungles of
Singamadagu district, 500km (300 miles) south of the capital Raipur.
“Nine Maoists and an assistant commandant have died and five troopers
are missing,” he told AFP.
Some unconfirmed reports say that up to 30 Maoists were killed and 10
soldiers were missing.
Security officials in Raipur told AFP that up to 250 personnel from
the police, paramilitary and commando units were involved in attacking a
rebel arms factory in the Singamadagu offensive.
The rebels are believed to have established a parallel administration
in the area and telephone communications there are virtually
non-existent.
Indian Home Minister P Chidambaram told police chiefs this week that
the guerrillas were growing stronger and refining their tactics in the
forests of Chhattisgarh and had even acquired advanced military
hardware.
-BBC
|