MUMBAI – A suspected bomb attack by Maoist rebels killed 16 Indian elitecommandos on Wednesday, police said, the latest incident of election-timeviolence in a decades-long insurgency.
“Maoists attacked a team of commandos travelling in a private vehicle toinspect an earlier attack. So far 16 men have died,” an official at policeheadquarters in the western state of Maharashtra told AFP.
“More teams have been sent to site for rescue and combat operations,” saidthe officer, who did not want to give his name.
India is holding elections and attacks by Maoist rebels, who are active inseveral states, often spike as the country goes to the polls.
A second police official put the death toll in the latest incident in theGadchiroli region of Maharashtra at 15.
“Maoists torched over 30 vehicles in Gadchiroli today at 12.30pm (0700GMT). In another blast, 15 security officers were killed and rescueoperations are ongoing to ascertain the damage,” Gadchiroli police officialPrashant Dute told AFP.
Indian forces have been fighting Maoists rebels for decades in severalareas, in an insurgency that has killed tens of thousands.
The Maoists are believed to be present in at least 20 Indian states but aremost active in Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Maharashtra.
India´s nationwide election began on April 11 and runs until May 19.
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Last weekend rebels opened fire on Indian police, killing two constablesand wounding a villager in the central state of Chhattisgarh, the PressTrust of India (PTI) news agency reported.
One constable and an assistant constable died at the scene and thevillager, shot in the chest, was taken by local residents for treatment,PTI reported.
A roadside bomb attack on a political convoy in early April killed fivepeople in Chhattisgarh, two days before the world´s biggest election began.
Modi condemns
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday swiftly condemned the latestattack.
“Strongly condemn the despicable attack on our security personnel inGadchiroli, Maharashtra. I salute all the brave personnel,” Modi tweeted.
“Their sacrifices will never be forgotten. My thoughts & solidarity arewith the bereaved families. The perpetrators of such violence will not bespared,” he added.
