Sir — Displaying their lethal firepower once again, the Maoists recently ambushed a 100-strong foot patrol from Chhattisgarh Police’s elite counter-insurgency force, shooting several jawans and the platoon commander in Bastar region. The area has been witness to similar attacks in the past. About 74 CRPF jawans were killed in Sukma in a deadly attack in April 2010, while in 2013, some 25 people, including top Congress leaders of Chhattisgarh, were killed in a Maoist ambush.
The latest attack have come at a time when the rebels launch their annual ‘tactical counter-offensive campaign’. Every year, from April till the beginning of the rains, I understand, the Maoists send out guerrilla squads to attack security forces. Not only is movement easier in summer as compared to the monsoon season, the heat withers the bushes and tall grass, offering the ambush teams a clearer view of troop movement. Meanwhile, there are no human rights activists to shed tears for the dead jawans.