50 killed in Naxal attack in Dantewada

In a brazen attack, Naxals today blew up a bus killing at least 50 people, including 20 Special Police Officers (SPOs), in worst-hit Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh, the second in six weeks.

The passenger bus, which was on its way from Sukma to Dantewada, was blown up by Maoists between Gadiras to Bhusaras near Chingavaram village, about 450 KMs from here using Improvised Explosive Device with gelatin sticks.

The bus was thrown up several feet with the impact of the explosion and body parts were strewn along the roadside.

The attack, which took place at around 16:45 hrs, was seen as yet another violation of Standard Operating Procedures which prohibit policemen and SPOs to travel in civilian vehicles.

Strongly condemning the attack, Union Home Secretary G K Pillai said the killing of innocent civilians showed "wanton disregard" for life by Naxals.

"This pattern of killing unarmed civilians has been the hallmark of Maoist violence over the years. In the last two days, we have seen that a village sarpanch and five others were killed," Pillai said.

He said seven persons were injured and have been rushed to hospital where their condition is serious.

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh said the attack showed the desperation of the Naxals who were losing their support base.

"This incident shows the cruel face of Naxals. We have been saying this... When the Naxals support base finishes they resort to such methods. Their (Naxals) belief in people's representatives and local population has finished," he said.

The passenger bus was completely mangled with its front portion squeezed into a steel ball. Several bodies which were brought out from the bus were mutilated.

The bodies of special police officers with INSAS rifles, civilians with their belongings, slippers and clothes were scattered around the site.

The Naxals had on April 6 carried out their deadliest attack killing 76 security personnel in Mukrana forests of Dantewada district.

On May 8, seven CRPF jawans were killed when Naxals blew up a bullet-proof vehicle in Bijapur district.

The Maoists also killed six villagers, including a sarpanch, near Teregaon in Rajnandgaon district yesterday and threw their bodies outside the villages.

Rajnandgaon district has witnessed a series of Naxalite attacks in the past. In July last year, Maoists had attacked a police party killing 29 personnel, including Superintendent of Police Vinod Kumar Choubey.