Maoist attack in retaliation to security operations: Raman Singh

RAIPUR - The dastardly Maoist attack on a civilian bus, killing 35 people including women and children, was a “retaliatory attack” by the leftwing rebels in response to the security operations against them in Chhattisgarh, Chief Minister Raman Singh said Monday.

The attack, which took place in a forested stretch in Dantewada, “shows that the Maoists are cornered and want to prove otherwise”, the chief minister said.

The attack was an attempt to “demoralise” the police and paramilitary forces engaged in flushing out Maoists from their entrenched areas in Chhattisgarh, he said.

He said he would speak to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to review security measures.

Around 55 people were on board the bus when it was attacked. Of the 35 killed, 20-25 were special police officers and the rest civilians, many of whom were women and children.

“I will be going to Delhi to speak to the prime minister and home minister (P. Chidambaram) on the security situation,” he said.

The attack comes 40 days after the April 6 massacre of 76 security personnel, including 75 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), in Dantewada.