The ambush in which 17 policemen were killed here yesterday indicated that the Naxals have a new strategy in place — first lure the security forces with some genuine information as bait, then trap and attack them.

According to sources, the policemen had received information about some Naxals camping in the area, about five kilometres from the Lahiri police station. A patrol was sent to investigate. When the security forces, comprising 25 C-60 commandos and 15 Lahiri police station personnel, were returning, they were ambushed by the Naxals, about 1,500 metres from the police station.

“We left the post at around 3 am. On finding the Naxal camp deserted, we started on our way back. Near Malam Podur village, at around 10 am, we saw two suspicious men and began to chase them. Suddenly, we found ourselves surrounded by Naxals,” said Police-Sub-Inspector Ajay Bhusari, 31, of Lahiri police station.

“There must have been about 200 of them, shooting at us, and abusing us all the while. From the voices that we could hear, there appeared to have been some women cadres as well. The group was led by two very senior leaders, Tarakka and Giridhar,” he added.

“One of them would come running, with five others providing him cover. Firing from just 100 yards, they pushed us into an open space. We had no cover, while they hid behind bushes and trees,” he said.

The police fought back. “We immediately got into a squareish formation and started returning fire in all directions,” Bhusari said. “A total of some three or four thousand rounds must have been fired.”

... contd.