Hamid Ansari condemns Naxal attack in Chhattisgarh

Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari on Sunday condemned the Maoist strike on Congress party leaders and activists in Chhattisgarh.

In a statement, Ansari said: "I condemn the dastardly attack in Bastar last night which killed many innocent people and injured several others. There is no place in civilized societies for such senseless and barbaric acts. All forms of extremism and violence have to be fought and eliminated from our midst."

"I convey my heartfelt condolences to those who have lost their loved ones and wish the injured a speedy recovery. My thoughts and prayers are with them in this difficult hour. May the Almighty give them courage and fortitude to bear with this tragedy," he added.

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.

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.