Chhattisgarh Naxal attack: Manmohan Singh, Sonia reach Raipur to assess situation

Following Saturday's tragic and dastardly attack on Congress leaders and activists by Maoists in Chhattisgarh, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi have reached here today to offer their condolences and support to families of those killed and injured.

Earlier describing the incident as a dastardly and anti-democratic act, Dr. Singh said, Government will take firm action against the perpetrators of violence.

Dr. Singh also appealed to the attackers to release, at the earliest, all those who may have been abducted. He also spoke to Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh and offered all help in rescue and relief operations.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi, accompanied by Party Vice President Rahul Gandhi met the Prime Minister last night. Talking to media persons after the meeting Gandhi said, she is shocked, astounded and pained by the attack on Party colleagues.

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi visited the injured persons at hospital in Raipur. He also visited Pradesh Congress Headquarters in Raipur and addressed party leaders and workers.

At least 27 people, including senior Congress leader Nand Kumar Patel, Mahendra Karma, were killed and several others injured including senior party leader V.C.Shukla when heavily-armed Maoists ambushed a convoy of party leaders inside a dense forest in Chhattisgarh's Bastar district.

The body of Chhattisgarh Congress chief Nand Kumar Patel, who was kidnapped along with his son after Maoists ambushed a convoy of party leaders, was found on Sunday in a forest in Bastar district. The body has been spotted near Darba Gati Valley, police said.

Maoists had kidnapped Patel and his son Dinesh after attacking the convoy of Congress leaders.