Naxals planning big attack in Maharashtra: IB

New Delhi: According to an Intelligence Bureau (IB) report, the Naxals are planning a massive attack in Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra. It says they have been planning this attack prior to last month's massacre in Dantewada, Chhattisgarh in which 76 paramilitary personnel were killed.

The report says that 60 percent of the 8000 armed Naxal cadres are concentrated in Gadchiroli and southern Chhattisgarh regions and they have mined the bulk of national highways in the area.

However, the state police say they are ready with their counter offensive.

Gadchiroli is a highly Naxal infested region in the country. In the past, there have been several attacks in the region. On February 1, 2009, a group of over 150 Naxal cadres ambushed a police party near the Markegaon village killing 15 policemen.

On May 22, 2009, just after the Lok Sabha elections, 16 security personnel including 6 policewomen were killed near the Kala Ghoda hillocks in the district. 17 policemen were killed when Maoists attacked the police team at Lahiri police station in October, 2009.

Forces ill-equipped

A day after 8 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawans were killed in a landmine blast by suspected Maoists in Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh, police now say the guerrillas have heavily mined the state's forested areas and that the state forces are finding it difficult to de-mine the vast stretches.

The Director General of Police (DGP) says that it is impossible to go after the Maoists in thickly forested areas because of the booby traps.

Chhattisgarh DGP Vishwa Ranjan says de-mining operations in thickly forested areas is a challenge due to lack of proper technology.

"The big problem is we have no technology and resources to de-mine the massive forested pockets. Without taking out landmines it's literally impossible to go after them freely in thickly forested areas where Maoists are always ready with a booby trap," says Ranjan.

Chhattisgarh Home Minister, Nanki Ram Kanwar has condemned Saturday's attack.

"This was an unfortunate incident. They used guerilla techniques to target our truck that was carrying essential supplies. Naxals are afraid to face us so they launch these covert attacks," says Kanwar.

Meanwhile, the bodies of the 8 jawans, who were killed when their bulletproof vehicle was blown up, have been brought to Raipur.

(With inputs from Meetu Jain)