Maoists kill 24 jawans in West Bengal

Kolkata, Feb 16: While the country is still haunted by Feb 13 terror attack in Pune, it was reminded again of the terror elements tearing the country apart from the inside on Monday, Feb 15 evening when Maoists launched yet another bold attack on a security camp at Silda in West Midnapore, killing as many as 24 paramilitary jawans.

The Maoists ambushed the camp catching the jawans unaware and unprepared. They sprayed bullets, triggered off explosions and set the camp on fire after looting the firearms.

"At least 24 jawans of Eastern Frontiers Rifles have been killed in the attack at the Silda camp and the condition of two of them is stated to be very critical," District Magistrate N S Nigam is quoted as saying.

Some of the jawans were burnt alive while others were gunned down in the biggest-ever Maoist attack in West Bengal.

The Maoists, who came in on bikes, planted landmines on their way out of the attack site in order to prevent the security forces from following them and retaliating.

Maoist polit bureau member Kishenji, who has claimed responsibility for the attack, has said that this was an answer to Union Home Minister P Chidambaram"s 'Operation Green Hunt".

“In the last two months, several persons were killed in various States in the name of 'Operation Green Hunt". This was a counter-offensive in response to the Centre"s offensive," Kishanji told a local news channel, adding that the attack was a part of the outfit"s 'Peace Hunt' operations.

OneIndia News