Maoist rebels on Saturday ambushed a paramilitary patrol in India’s eastern Chhattisgarh state, killing 11 policemen, regional police said. The attack on the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel took place in the forested area of Sukma district, a known area of Maoist activity, about 400km from the state capital, Raipur. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Rajnath Singh condemned the attack in separate statements on Twitter. India then launched its largest-ever security operation, involving tens of thousands of federal troops and policemen, following the attack. Maoist rebels accuse the Indian government of plundering the mineral rich and underdeveloped east and central regions of the country at the expenses of the poor and landless among whom they draw support.

Source: Dhaka Tribune March 11, 2017 10:46 UTC