New Delhi: India’s Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday called the deadly attack that killed 25 paramilitary commandos in Chhattisgarh “a cold-blooded murder” and promised to review the government’s policy against Naxalites (Maoists).
“It is an act of desperation. We have accepted it as a challenge. We will review the strategy and if necessary we will revisit it,” Singh said after paying tribute to the soldiers who were killed on Monday evening.
He said the Maoists were using tribals as their shield to prevent development in Chhattisgarh.
“Naxalites are using tribals as fodder, as human shields. Maoists are against ongoing development in the tribal areas. But we will not let them succeed,” the Home Minister said.
Singh said that a joint meeting of various state government officials will take place on May eight to strengthen anti-Naxalite strategy.
“If needed, we will review the anti-Naxalite strategy,” he said.
On Monday evening, Maoist insurgents carried out one of the worst attacks in Sukma district of Chhattisgarh. Apart from those who died, six Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel have been critically injured.
The victims were part of a 99-strong team providing security to workers building the road in the area.
Heavily forested Sukma is a stronghold for Maoists waging war against the government from their forest bases.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the attack and offered condolences to the families of the deceased.
“The attack on CRPF personnel in Chhattisgarh is cowardly and deplorable. We are monitoring the situation closely. The sacrifice of the soldiers would not go in vain,” Modi tweeted.
In 2015, Modi urged Maoists to put down their guns and take up ploughs, stating that “violence has no future”.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh said the Maoists opposed efforts to build infrastructure in the state because it defeats their cause.
“The attack is condemnable and development work as well as anti-Maoist operations will continue unabated in Chhattisgarh. We will increase our development activities as well as strengthen our operation,” he said.
Soldier Sher Mohammed who survived the attack told media on Tuesday that almost 300 Maoists attacked the CRPF team on Monday evening.
Grieved families of CRPF martyrs demanded justice from the central government on Tuesday. Some of them are likely to meet the Home Minister this week.
Earlier in 2010, Maoists had killed 75 CRPF troopers in the same region.
On March 11 this year, Maoists ambushed a similar CRPF road opening party and killed at least 12 troopers in Sukma.
