<p>“The attack by the CPI-Maoist on a camp of the Eastern Frontier Rifles (EFR) of West Bengal is another outrageous attempt by the banned organisation to overawe the established authority in the state. I condemn the attack,” Chidambaram said in a statement, a day after the daring attack by Maoists on the camp in West Midnapore district.<br /><br />"I also conveyed my profound sympathies on the loss of lives. While there are indications of failure in some aspects, only a thorough review will reveal how the police camp with adequate strength was overrun, when there was daylight, by the CPI-Maoist," the home minister said. <br /><br />“There has been a massive loss of lives. Besides, more than 40 weapons are reported to have been looted. The leader of the CPI-Maoist has claimed responsibility for the attack and has threatened to repeat such attacks in the future.”<br /><br />The attack comes barely a week after Chidambaram held a meeting in Kolkata with officials of Orissa, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal to launch an inter-state operation against the left-wing extremists.<br /><br />An eyewitness said the rebels came on motorbikes and vans and triggered a landmine blast in front of the joint forces' camp. <br /><br />According to eyewitnesses, there were 51 troopers inside the Shilda police camp, comprising 35 Eastern Frontier Rifles (EFR) and 16 State Armed Police (SAP) personnel. <br />Top Maoist leader Koteswar Rao alias Kishenji has claimed his group was behind the attack.<br /><br />The home minister emphasised that every attack by the left-wing extremists exposed the true nature and character of the outfit.<br /><br />“Their goal is to seize power. Their weapon is violence. No organisation or group in a democratic republic has the right to take to violence to overpower the established legal authority. Unfortunately, this simple truth has escaped a number of well-meaning organisations that find 'legitimacy' in the armed liberation struggle carried on by the CPI-Maoist,” he said. <br /><br />Detailing the violence caused by the Maoist rebels during the three-day shutdown Feb 7-9, Chidambaram said their main targets of attack were railway property and there were a total of 11 incidents in Bihar, Jharkhand and Orissa. <br /><br />“Tracks were blown up, railway stations were attacked, bombs were placed on railway property and railway officials were assaulted,” he said.<br /><br />“I would like to hear the voices of condemnation of those who have, erroneously, extended intellectual and material support to the CPI-Maoist. It is only if the whole country rejects the preposterous theses of the CPI-Maoist and condemns the so-called 'armed liberation struggle' that we can put an end to the menace of Naxalism (Maoism) and bring development and progress to the people in the conflict zones.”<br /></p>
<p>“The attack by the CPI-Maoist on a camp of the Eastern Frontier Rifles (EFR) of West Bengal is another outrageous attempt by the banned organisation to overawe the established authority in the state. I condemn the attack,” Chidambaram said in a statement, a day after the daring attack by Maoists on the camp in West Midnapore district.<br /><br />"I also conveyed my profound sympathies on the loss of lives. While there are indications of failure in some aspects, only a thorough review will reveal how the police camp with adequate strength was overrun, when there was daylight, by the CPI-Maoist," the home minister said. <br /><br />“There has been a massive loss of lives. Besides, more than 40 weapons are reported to have been looted. The leader of the CPI-Maoist has claimed responsibility for the attack and has threatened to repeat such attacks in the future.”<br /><br />The attack comes barely a week after Chidambaram held a meeting in Kolkata with officials of Orissa, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal to launch an inter-state operation against the left-wing extremists.<br /><br />An eyewitness said the rebels came on motorbikes and vans and triggered a landmine blast in front of the joint forces' camp. <br /><br />According to eyewitnesses, there were 51 troopers inside the Shilda police camp, comprising 35 Eastern Frontier Rifles (EFR) and 16 State Armed Police (SAP) personnel. <br />Top Maoist leader Koteswar Rao alias Kishenji has claimed his group was behind the attack.<br /><br />The home minister emphasised that every attack by the left-wing extremists exposed the true nature and character of the outfit.<br /><br />“Their goal is to seize power. Their weapon is violence. No organisation or group in a democratic republic has the right to take to violence to overpower the established legal authority. Unfortunately, this simple truth has escaped a number of well-meaning organisations that find 'legitimacy' in the armed liberation struggle carried on by the CPI-Maoist,” he said. <br /><br />Detailing the violence caused by the Maoist rebels during the three-day shutdown Feb 7-9, Chidambaram said their main targets of attack were railway property and there were a total of 11 incidents in Bihar, Jharkhand and Orissa. <br /><br />“Tracks were blown up, railway stations were attacked, bombs were placed on railway property and railway officials were assaulted,” he said.<br /><br />“I would like to hear the voices of condemnation of those who have, erroneously, extended intellectual and material support to the CPI-Maoist. It is only if the whole country rejects the preposterous theses of the CPI-Maoist and condemns the so-called 'armed liberation struggle' that we can put an end to the menace of Naxalism (Maoism) and bring development and progress to the people in the conflict zones.”<br /></p>
