Heavy death toll in naxal-police hostilities

Jagdalpur, July 10 (UNI) Increased hostilities between the security forces and Maoist naxalites in Bastar region of Chhattisgarh have claimed about 240 lives in the past six months, police sources said today.

While 108 security personnel, including eight officers, were killed during the period, 92 tribals and 39 naxalites were also killed in the hostilities, the sources said.

In a major offensive launched by the Maoists near Errabore in Dantewada district last night, at least 14 security personnel were killed, while the police claimed 25 ultras also lost their lives in a gun battle.

As many as 55 security personnel, including 39 Special Police Officers, were killed when the Maoist rebels attacked a police camp at Ranibodli in Dantewada district in March this year.

Tribal youth were appointed as SPO on monthly honorarium of Rs 1500 to assist the security personnel in anti-naxal operations in south Bastar region, but they became the target of most rebel attacks.

Police sources said majority of 92 tribal youth killed in naxal attacks were activists associated with the anti-naxal 'Salwa Judum' movement launched since June, 2005 in south Bastar.

Hostilities between the security forces and naxals rendered about 300 villages as ''ghost villages'' as the residents fled their home and took shelter in government run relief camps. Few such camps also came under naxal attack.

Meanwhile, the naxalites took away 85 weapons, including 15 AK-47 rifles and 20 SLR, from security personnel during the period.

Bastar, Narayanpur, Dantewada and Bijapur districts in southern part of Chhattisgarh plunged in darkness for 12 days last month after the naxalites destroyed power transmission towers through explosions. Production and transport of iron ore from the Bailadila mines also affected causing loss of more than Rs 200 crore.

UNI