Maoist rebels kill 11 people in eastern India after death of leader

Maoist rebels kill 11 people in eastern India after death of leader

2011-12-06 06:21:05 GMT+7 (ICT)

DALTONGANJ, INDIA (BNO NEWS) -- Indian Maoist rebels have killed eleven people in protest against the killing of top Maoist leader Kishanji in West Bengal last month, the Times of India reported on Monday.

The rebels triggered a landmine blast targeting the convoy of independent member of parliament Inder Singh Namdhari in the Latehar district of the eastern state of Jharkhand on Saturday night. Five policemen and an eight-year-old boy died at the scene, while three bodies of security personnel were later found in the forest during a search operation.

Two security personnel, who were under treatment at a nearby hospital, succumbed to their injuries on Sunday, according to the news report. Police Superintendent D.V. Sharma confirmed the death toll, adding that rebels looted arms and ammunition after the attack.

"The Maoists were on the move and were looking for an opportunity to take revenge for Kishanji's killing for the past one week. There were at least 100-150 Maoists close to the blast site. The blast was deafening and firing continued for more than half-an-hour," a source told the Times of India.

Namdhari, a former speaker of assembly who had gone to Latehar to attend a function, escaped unhurt as the explosion occurred moments after his car passed the spot.

A spokesperson for the Maoists, Sudhir, told Times of India from an undisclosed location that the attack was intentional but they had no plans to target Namdhari. "We own the responsibility for the attack on the police party at Satnadia region in Garu to avenge the killing of our leader Kishanji. However, this is just a beginning as the People Liberation Guerrilla Army has decided to observe a week-long protest till December 8," he added.

The Maoist threatened to carry on with more attacks in the near future and asked police to withdraw immediately from the forests of western Jharkhand. He also expressed condolence over the death of the boy and assured to 'extend help' to the family.

On November 24, Indian officials said the body of 58-year-old Molajula Koteswar Rao, better known as Kishanji, was found and identified after a gun battle in a forest in West Midnapore district in the eastern state of West Bengal. Indian Home Secretary R.K. Singh said that the reported killing of Kishanji was a "huge setback" for the Maoists as he was number three in their hierarchy.

More than one-third of India's 626 administrative districts are affected by the Maoist insurgency. At least 1,170 rebels, troops and civilians were killed in insurgency-related incidents in 2010 alone. The Maoists say they are fighting for the rights of tribal, landless and poor people in the country's poorest regions.

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