Suspected Maoists kill 10 policemen, 1 civilian

Source: HT

Ten policemen and one civilian were shot dead by suspected Maoist rebels on Friday in an ambush in Chhattisgarh, according to police. Five Maoists were also killed in the clash in Chhattisgarh, police added. The Maoists opened fire on the policemen as they escorted a vehicle carrying food supplies to a police station. The attack occurred in the town of Depla in Bijapur district, some 550 kilometres of Raipur. "Ten policemen and the driver of the supply vehicle were killed in the ambush by Maoists," the state's chief of anti-Maoist operations Ramniwas, who goes by one name, told AFP. "In the exchange of fire, at least five Maoists also died," he said, adding that security reinforcements were rushed to the area. Bijapur has witnessed a number of deadly clashes between leftwing rebels and security forces. In June, 10 policemen were killed in the state in a landmine explosion, and five others died when the rebels raided a police camp. The Maoist movement, which began in 1967, feeds off land disputes, police brutality and corruption, and is strongest in the poorest and most deprived areas of India, many of which are rich in natural resources. Supreme Court in July ordered Chhattisgarh authorities to disband a militia force founded to combat the guerrillas, saying armed vigilante groups violated the constitution. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has called the insurgency an internal security threat and has urged state governments to increase pro-poor welfare measures to help counter the rebels. Some 171 suspected left-wing guerrillas were killed last year along with 713 civilians in Maoist-linked violence compared to the previous year's tally of 591. A total of 285 policemen also died in 2010.