The Hindu : New Delhi News : Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand record most Naxal-hits

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Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand record most Naxal-hits

The States account for 68.16 % of the total incidents

214 security personnel killed in fighting Maoists
418 civilians killed till November 2007

New Delhi: As the security establishment grapples with unbridled Naxalite violence in over a dozen states, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand have earned the dubious distinction of accounting for 68.16 per cent of the total incidents and 76.42 per cent of the total casualties last year.

Latest official figures compiled till the end of November last reveal that security forces suffered heavy casualties in the fight against the Maoists as 214 personnel were killed compared to 133 during the same period in 2006.

Though the number of incidents of Naxal violence was 1,385 -- almost the same as 1,398 in 2006 -- the causalities suffered by civilians was less. While 418 civilians were killed till November 2007, the toll was 501 during the corresponding period the year before, reflecting a shift in the Maoists’ strategy, Home Ministry sources said.

Rather than targeting the people, the Naxalites have set their eyes on economic installations, with the Railways bearing the worst brunt in the badly affected states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa and Chhattisgarh, making senior officials in the security establishment sit up.

An official attributed the higher number of casualties in Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand mainly to increased use of Improvised Explosive Devices and landmines by Naxalites. He said attacks on security forces, killings of people who resist Naxalite atrocities, extortion, violence and continuous counter-operations by security forces against them led to the high toll.

Six naxalites killed

Gaya: Police on Sunday claimed to have killed six naxalites in an encounter in Bihar’s Gaya district. DSP Balram Kumar Choudhry told reporters that on specific information that members of CPI-Maoist were hiding at Bangudwa Naktaia hills in the district cordoned off the area and asked the naxalites to surrender. Instead of laying down their arms, the naxalites fired on the raiding party forcing the police to return the fire in which six naxalites were killed. PTI

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