Maoist rebels ambush police in central Indian forest, killing 7

Published April 13, 2015
This Saturday, April 11, 2015 photo shows Indian policemen who were wounded in an attack by Maoist rebels being attended to by colleagues in Sukma district, 385 kilometers (240 miles) south of Raipur, India. — AP
This Saturday, April 11, 2015 photo shows Indian policemen who were wounded in an attack by Maoist rebels being attended to by colleagues in Sukma district, 385 kilometers (240 miles) south of Raipur, India. — AP

PATNA: Maoist rebels attacked a group of policemen patrolling in a central Indian forest, killing seven and wounding another 10, police said.

The ambushed policemen were part of a special task force out searching for rebel activity early Saturday when the militants opened fire, according to RK Vij, a top police official in Chhattisgarh state.

Ten wounded officers were airlifted to a hospital in the state capital of Raipur.

Few other details were available from the remote region in Sukma district, 385 kilometers south of Raipur.

The rebels have been called India's biggest internal security threat, operating in 20 of India's 28 states with thousands of fighters.

Inspired by Chinese revolutionary leader Mao Zedong, they've been fighting for over three decades in central and eastern India to demand the poor receive more jobs and a greater share of wealth from natural resources.

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