President Mukherjee condemns Naxal attack in Chhattisgarh

President Pranab Mukherjee on Sunday condemned the Maoist strike on Congress party leaders and activists in Chhattisgarh and called upon concerned authorities to do their utmost to bring the perpetrators of this crime to justice.

In a statement, Mukherjee said: "I am deeply dismayed and shocked at the wanton violence unleashed by Maoists in Chhattisgarh on a convoy of vehicles carrying leaders of the Congress Party."

"I condemn this incident in the strongest of terms and would like to reiterate that violence has no place whatsoever in our democratic polity. The nation will neither be overawed nor intimidated by such action," he said.

"I call upon concerned authorities to do their utmost to bring the perpetrators of this crime to justice. The safety and security of our citizens should be ensured at all times," he added.

He further said: "I express my deepest condolences to the families of those killed in the incident and offer my prayers for the speedy recovery of those injured in the incident".

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.