Massive combing op in Bastar after Ranibodli naxal raid

Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh, Mar 15 (UNI) Paramilitary forces personnel have launched a massive combing operation after Communist Party of India (Maoist) cadres raided a police camp, killing about 50 security personnel and injuring a dozen at Ranibodli in tribal Bastar region's Dantewada district.

District Collector K S Pisda confirmed that security personnel and special police officers -- local youth recruited to assist the forces -- were the victims. The naxals also looted weapons.

The injured, who received first aid at Katru Hospital, are being shifted to a hospital in Bijapur from where the severely injured are likely to be airlifted to the state capital Raipur.

Meanwhile, senior officials supervising the combing operation told UNI here that the personnel were directed to remain ''cautious'' in view of the possibility of the rebels laying landmines around Ranibodli camp to target security personnel rushing to the area.

Talking to reporters in Raipur, Director-General of Police Om Prakash Rathore claimed that the security personnel shot dead five naxals during the raid. He did not elaborate.

Meanwhile, state Home Minister Ram Vichar Netam condemned the attack as act of ''cowardice''. After the local tribals' campaign against Maoists, the latter have become so desperate that they were unleashing terror, he said, adding that the government had sought additional deployment in these areas.

Senior Congress leader and former Home Minister Nandkumar Patel said that the government failed to optimally utilise resources to contain naxalism as the Centre had already provided paramilitary personnel.

''The situation has worsened to an extent that calls for imposition of President's Rule,'' he said adding that another option was to declare Bastar region as a 'disturbed area' and the Centre should take direct control of the region.

UNI