At Least 74 Killed In Maoist Attack

The nation stood stunned as it witnessed one of the most savage attacks on its police forces by Maoists from the state of Chattisgarh.

'Operation Green Hunt' backfired when Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were returning to basecamp on Tuesday. The 62nd battallion - comprising 80 members - was attacked by a group of nearly 1,000 Maoists, killing 73 personnel in the ambush and critically injuring several others. The ambush took place in the Mukrana forests near Chintalnar in Dantewada district, about 450 km south of the state capital.

The attck was followed by landmine blasts and encounters. The Maoists had blocked the ambushed area, making it difficult to carry out any rescue operations. This is the third attack by the Maoists in the last 4 days.

Union Home Minister P Chidambaram expressed shock and regret at the news, saying that the casualty rate is alarmingly high and that the troops must have walked themselves into a trap. A dishevelled Manmohan Singh, the prime minister, spoke to the home minister regarding the issue. Top police officials believe that more than a thousand rebels might be involved in this meticulously planned brutal attack.

Operation Green Hunt is an ongoing military offensive that began in November 2009 by the central government of India to combat and eliminate Maoism in the country.

As Andhra Pradesh, itself a Naxal-prone state, shares its border with Chattisgarh, the Andhra-Chattisgarh borders have been officially closed. DGP Girish Kumar said that the police of all districts of Andhra Pradesh have been alerted. The Andhra-Orissa, Orissa-Chattisgarh, Andhra-Maharashtra and Maharashtra-Chattisgarh borders are all now on a high alert.