Maoists attack Congress’ ‘yatra’,kill Mahendra Karma,injure V C Shukla

A former Congress MLA from Rajnandgaon Udya Mudaliyar was also shot dead and prominent woman tribal leader Phulo Devi Netam from Bastar,was wounded by the Maoists who attacked the convoy at around 1730 hours when they were returning from the party’s ‘Parivartan’ rally.

There were unconfirmed reports of some policemen and other Congress activists being killed in the attack.

Karma,a former Home Minister who was a guiding force behind ‘Salwa Judum’ (anti-Naxal operation by vigilante groups),was surrounded by about 100 to 150 Maoists who peppered his body with bullets.

The Maoists had put up road blocks by felling trees before triggering a landmine blast that hit one of the vehicles in the convoy and thereafter opening fire indiscriminately,police sources said.

After carrying out the attack,the ultras set nearby trees on fire.

The Personal Security Officers of the Congress leaders returned the fire but soon ran out of bullets.

The Maoist attack took place in a dense forest near National Highway 202 connecting Chattisgarh with Naxal-hit Bhadrachalam district in adjacent Andhra Pradesh.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has called Chief Minister Raman Singh and asked him about what help he needs to deal with the situation.

PM has also tasked the NSA to ascertain what kind of assistance the state needs to deal with the attack and its aftermath.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh appeals to attackers to release at the earliest all those who may have been abducted in Chhattisgarh.

Congress chief Sonia Gandhi says Naxals have attacked India’s democratic values.

‘We are shocked,astounded and pained by the attack on our colleagues in Chhattisgarh’,Congress chief Sonia Gandhi.

Senior Congress leaders,including Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi are in a huddle at an emergency meeting of the party at PM Manmohan Singh’s residence.

Union Home Ministry said it is rushing additional paramilitary forces to help launch a combing operation for release of abducted leaders.

17 people killed and 20 injured in Chhattisgarh by Maoists,says Union Home Ministry.

“Home Ministry has sent additional forces to Chhattisgarh to assist the local administration in launching combing operations for rescue of kidnapped persons,” Home Ministry sources said.

The Home Ministry has also sought a report from the state government on today’s violence. The MHA officials are in touch with state government officials and are monitoring the situation.

Opposition Congress’ ‘Parivartan Yatra’,comprising senior party leaders,had launched it on April 12 in the state where Assembly elections are due by year end.

Chhattisgarh Congress media cell president Shailesh Trivedi alleged the state’s BJP government did not provide adequate security to Congress party’s yatra despite threats.

“Naxals have opposed both BJP’s ‘Vikas Yatra’ and Congress’ ‘Parivartan Yatra’. However,the state government provided security only to BJP’s ‘yatra’ and not to the one organised by Congress. Had it been provided security,today’s incident would not have happened,” he said.

Inputs by PTI