Maoist rebels kill politicians in ambush
ABOUT 200 suspected Maoist rebels set off a land mine and opened fire on a convoy of cars carrying local leaders and supporters of India’s ruling Congress party in an eastern state, killing 28 people and wounding 24 others in one of their most audacious attacks on politicians.
Senior police officer M. Gupta said the ambush occurred on Saturday in the Sukma area, about 215 miles south of Raipur, the capital of Chhattisgarh state.
The convoy was attacked in a densely forested area as the Congress members were returning to the state capital after attending a party rally, said Ram Niwas, a state police official.
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Hide AdFour state party leaders and five police officers were among those killed. Other victims were party supporters.
“We are devastated,” said Congress party President Sonia Gandhi, who denounced what she called a “dastardly attack” on the country’s democratic values.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said the government would take firm action against the perpetrators.