Yesterday Maoists killed at least 76 police personnel in India. Now, residents say that the government’s dialogue with the rebels is not working, and that extreme measures are needed in order to tackle the rebels.
It’s been a day after India witnessed the worst ever Maoist attack that killed at least 76 police personnel in central Chhattisgarh state on Tuesday. Now, residents are saying that a "fight to the finish" is the only way to tackle the rebels.
Tuesday’s ambush by more than 700 Maoists highlights their strong presence in large areas of India, especially in remote rural areas left out of the booming economy.
One local resident that the federal government’s dialogue is not working, and that extreme measures are needed.
[Dheeraj Kumar Rangari, Local Resident]: (Male, Hindi)
"Dialogue is the only way forward. Although the federal government had initiated talks with the Maoists, it is not working. Then in that case, we have to take some extreme steps. It is a ‘do or die’ situation. We have to fight to the finish and that is the only way to tackle them."
Others are concerned the Indian government can’t pinpoint who were behind the attack.
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Police said the Maoist rebels, who control several areas rich in mineral resources, retreated into the forest in the Dantewada district of the Bastar region. It’s home to government-owned iron ore miner, the National Mineral Development Corporation of India, the largest in the country.
Reinforcements trying to collect the bodies also came under fire by the Maoists who surrounded the area.
The Congress-led government has been accused of failing to deal with the insurgents, and the security issue could be important in several state elections over the next two years.
Prime Minister Singh has described the Maoists as the gravest threat to India's internal security.
