10 deadliest Naxal attacks in India

New Delhi: There has been an unprecedented spurt in Naxal activities in states like Chattisgarh, Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal in recent years. With over 1500 killings in the past 8 years, the Maoists' struggle has unfortunately transformed into a power struggle. The Maoist movement in India began three decades ago and these states still reverberate with sounds of gunfire and explosives. Keeping track of some horrible incidents, here is a list of 10 deadliest Maoist attacks in India in the past few years:1. Koraput, Odisha, 2004 The Peoples' War extremists led one of the most horrifying Naxal attacks, in Koraput, Odisha. The attack involved 1000 advanced guns and 1000 other weapons worth over Rs 50 crore. The horror ran for about six hours, looting the district armoury, demolishing five police stations, and the Koraput jail. The SP police, Arun Bothra had a providential escape, while killing and injuring many members of the Orissa State Armed Police battalion (OSAP). 2. Nayagarh, Odisha, 2008 One of the deadliest Naxalite attack occurred in February, 2008 in Nayagarh, Odisha. Buses and trucks full of Maoists took hostage the district headquarters of Orissa. The attack killed 14 policemen. However, in defence, the Police Force led a massive attack with over 700 state police personnel, CRPF, SOG Commandos, Special Greyhound Forces from Andhra Pradesh and IAF Helicopters to fight back the Maoists. 3. Darbha Valley, Chattisgarh, 2013 Naxalites struck a body blow to the state Congress leadership in Chattisgarh on 25th May 2013, when insurgents belonging to Communist Party of India (Maoists) attacked a convoy of Indian National Congress leaders who were headed for a election rally. In all 27 people, which included Mahendra Karma, leader of a counter Maoist movement and Nand Kumar, Patel, president of state congress unit were brutally attacked and killed in the ambush on the convoy. Vidya Charan Shukla later succumbed to his injuries on 11th June. 4. Dantewada, Chattisgarh, 2007 Another attack was led in the prime Naxalite area of Dantewada, Chattisgarh in April 2007. More than 350 Maoists killed 54 people including 15 personnel from the Armed Force. The police base camp in the Bastar region was slammed in a matter of hours. Several victims belonged to the tribal youth community of Salwa Judum, as Special Police Officers. 5. Rani Bodi, Chattisgarh, 2007More than 500 Naxalites attacked a police post in Rani Bodi village in Chattisgarh in 2007. 55 policemen succumbed to the attack, including 24 police personnel of the state police and 31 Special Police Officers. The attack was cleverly planned for night, when most of the police force was asleep. 6. Dantewada, Chattisgarh, 2006 800 armed rebels lashed the Errabore relief camp in Dantewada district of Chattisgarh on July 17. 25 people were killed and 80 other were injured. The Maoists also abducted about 20 people from the relief camp that housed over 4000 people. 7. Jehanabad, Bihar, 2005 A fierce gun-battle was fought with the police of Jehanabad district during the Jehanabad Jail Break in June 2005. 12 people were reported to die in the incident. CPI (Maoist) guerrillas disguised in police uniforms, crashed the Jehanabad jail located in the centre of the town, thus questioning the entire security system. Even today, people of the town recall the tragedy with dismay. 8.Naxalites kill Babulal Marandi's son, 2007 Former Jharkand CM Babulal Marandi's son Anup and 17 others were killed in a Naxal attack at the Chilkhadia village in Giridh district of Jharkhand. The Naxals opened indiscriminate fire and exploded bombs when a cultural programme was being held. 9.Naxalites kill JMM MP Sunil Mahato, 2007 Armed Naxalites shot dead JMM MP (Lok Sabha) Sunil Kumar Mahato, his bodyguards and a party colleague while they were watching football match at Bakuria village near Jamshedpur in Jharkhand. 10.Attack on Chandrababu Naidu, 2003 The TDP chief and then Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu had a narrow escape, when he was on his way to Tirupati on October 1, 2003. The attack was carried out by a special team of Maoists at the foothills of Tirumala. A few seconds delay in triggering claymore mines saved his life.