In the biggest ever attack on any political party, senior Congress leader Mahendra Karma, former Rajnandgaon MlA Udai Mudliyar, Congress leader of Jagdalpur Gopi Madhwani were among the dozen people killed in a Maoist attack.
Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister VC Shukla, Sukma’s Congress legislator Kawasai lakma were among those critically injured. Reports from the spot said Shukla was taken to a hospital at Jagdalpur, the divisional headquarters of Bastar, by road. His condition is stated to be critical.
However, the Union Home Ministry said late in the night that 17 people were killed and 20 injured in the Maoist attack. 12 Congress workers have been admitted to Maharani Hospital in Jagdalpur out of which the condition of eight is stated to be critical.
At least six people including State Congress president Nandkumar Patel and his newly-married son Dinesh Patel went missing. The blood bath took place when the unprotected cavalcade of Congress leaders was returning from Sukma after addressing a public meeting under their ongoing Parivartan Yatra on Saturday afternoon.
Vidya Charan Shukla, Konta MlA Kawasi lakhma received bullet injuries when the rebels stopped the cavalcade between Jiram and Darbha valleys, some 35 km away from divisional headquarters Jagdalpur. lakhma is stated to be recovering and is out of danger. He said that the insurgents attacked vehicles in which senior leaders were travelling.
The Maoists had put up road blocks by felling trees before triggering a landmine blast that hit one of the vehicles in the convoy, comprising 15-20 vehicles carrying Congress leaders to Jagdalpur. The blast brought the convoy to a halt and the maoists sprayed bullets for about two hours from close range. About 150 to 200 insurgents took part in the operation.
One of Patel’s Personal Security Officers, who managed to escape, said that when the bullets of Karma’s SPOs ran short, Karma went to surrender but after identifying him Maoists fired at least 10-15 bullets at him besides beating him with rifle butts, killing him on the spot.
The rebels then identified Nandkumar Patel and his son Dinesh Patel and took them along into the jungle.Nandkumar Patel too reportedly received bullet injuries.
Rajnandgaon former MlA Udai Mudliyar, who was also hurt in the firing, succumbed to the bullet injuries. At least five personal security officers of Karma, Vidya Charan Shukla, Mudliyar and Nand Kumar Patel were killed in the attack. Keskal former MlA Phulo Devi Netam was also seriously injured in the firing.
Notably, almost all top leaders of the Congress Party had gone to attend the Parivartan Yatra at Dornapal in Sukma district. After completion of the meeting former Chief Minister Ajit Jogi left for Raipur by chopper, others including Vidya Charan Shukla, Mahendra Karam, Udai Mudliyar, Nand Kumar Patel, Kawasi lakhma, Phulo Devi Netam and a host of Congress leaders from Jagdalpur were returning to Jagdalpur by cars.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Raman Singh returned to State Capital announcing abrupt end of his ongoing Vikash Yatra and held emergency meeting with top brass of the administrative officials to review the situation.
In New Delhi, PM Manmohan Singh held a meeting with Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and party vice-president Rahul Gandhi to discuss the situation in the State following the major attack. Singh spoke to Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh and enquired if the State needed additional forces to cope with the Maoists and to launch a combing operation.
UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi condemned the incident, saying, "It is an attack on democratic values which need to be condemned by not only political parties, but society as a whole," Gandhi said. "The Prime Minister condemns the attack on Congress leaders in Chhattisgarh as a dastardly and anti-democratic act," a PMO statement said. NDA working chairperson lK Advani called up Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to express his concern over the attack.
Minister of State for Home RPN Singh is leaving for Jagdalpur on Sunday as Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde is now abroad. "Home Ministry has sent additional forces to Chhattisgarh to assist the local administration in launching combing operations for rescue of kidnapped persons," Home Ministry sources said adding "the State Government has been assured of all help".
The Home Ministry has also sought a report from the State Government on the violence. The MHA officials are in regular touch with State Government officials and are monitoring the situation.