Maoists attack Jharkhand ex-Speaker’s convoy; kill 10 

biswabrata goswami

3 December 2011

MIDNAPORE, 3 DEC: In what appears to be the first act of retaliation for the killing of Maoist leader Kishenji in Burisole forest in the Junglemahal area of West Bengal, Maoists attacked the convoy of former Jharkhand Speaker and MP Mr Inder Singh Namdhari, killing eight policemen and two civilians, including a child, at Ladu More in Jharkhand’s Latehar district today.
At least five people, including three jawans, were also injured in the attack and they have been admitted to hospital in serious condition. One policeman is said to be missing. The dead policemen include an assistant sub-inspector. Palamau SP Mr Sudhir Kumar Jha said two among the four injured policemen, who were admitted to a hospital in Medininagar, later succumbed to their injuries.
The rebels triggered an IED blast and then opened fire on the security vehicles which were escorting the former Jharkhand Speaker from Chatra parliamentary constituency. “Mr Namdhari who was returning from a function at Mahuatand escaped unhurt, but at least eight security personnel and two civilians were killed in the attack” said Mr RK Malik, inspector general of police (operation), Jharkhand. According to police, Maoists attacked Mr Namdhari's convoy between Garu and Lalbhar. A bus in the vicinity also came under Maoist fire. An six-year-old girl who was injured in the cross-fire succumbed to her injuries in a hospital where she was taken along with the other injured. Mr Namdhari said: “I was returning from a programme and security officials were escorting me. When my convoy was crossing a bridge near Ladu More, I heard an explosion behind my vehicle. We didn’t stop the car. The policemen were in the car behind us and weren’t able to move as fast as us.” Condemning the attack, he said: “I was busy in public work. The rebels are not willing to accept our development efforts. Such heinous crimes would not be accepted by the people”.
Mr GS Rath, state director-general of police, said: “The Maoists triggered an IED blast and then opened fire on the security vehicle which was following Mr Namdhari’s car at Ladu More. Eight security personnel and two civilians including a child were killed in the attack”. According to police sources, the bodies of eight policemen have been recovered but one policeman is stated to be missing. “Following the attack, the government has issued a red alert across Jharkhand and security has been beefed up at key places,” a senior police officer said. This attack came on the eve of a two-day Bharat Bandh called by the CPI (Maoist) to protest against the killing of top leader Koteswar Rao alias Kishenji in West Bengal on 24 November.