At least 20 people died on Tuesday when Maoist rebels in central India blew up a truck packed with anti-Maoist activists, police said.
”Until now, we know that 20 people have died. Around 35 to 40 people are injured. It was a landmine attack,” said police additional director general of intelligence SK Paswan in Raipur, capital of Chattisgarh state.
A police spokesperson in the state’s Dandewada district where the attack took place believed the death toll was higher.
”Our initial information is that 25 people are dead but since it is very remote area officers are still trying to work out how many are injured, how many are critical and how many have died,” she said.
She said the tipper truck was blasted late morning at a village in the district’s Darbhaguda area, 550km south of Raipur.
India’s Maoists have bases in several states and have recently stepped up attacks. The guerrillas say they are fighting for greater economic and social rights for tribes and landless farmers in rural areas.
The latest attack comes on the eve of a visit to India by United States President George Bush. – AFP
