Over the years, Maoists have unleashed a volley of terror attacks across states in India. At the backdrop of Saturday's massacre carried out by Naxalites in Chattisgarh, we look at other such past incidents.
The attack on Congress leaders by Naxalites on Saturday in Chhattisgarh was one that was brutal and savage and resulted in several deaths. Among those killed was Mahendra Karma, founder of Salwa Judum, an anti-Maoist movement. Salwa Judum was founded in 2006 as a people's resistance movement against the Naxalites.
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Reports said that on seeing Karma, Maoists started dancing before spraying him with bullets. They then stabbed him in the head.
Calling the incident a "cowardly act" on the part of Maoists, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi said the strike was not an attack on Congress or its leaders, but an attack on democratic values.
This is not the first time that Maoists have engaged in anti-social activities. We look at some other such incidents:
In March 2012, Maoists held two Italians as hostage in Odisha. They released them one by one after negotiations with the Odisha government.
In the same month, Jhina Hikaka, a Biju Janta Dal MLA, was kidnapped and kept in captivity for 33 days before being released.
On 27 March 2012, Maoists are reported to have killed 15 policemen.
In 2011, Naxalites killed and dismembered ten policemen in Chattisgarh. The same year, Maoists in Chattigarh blew up a bridge killing four persons and injuring others.
On 6 April 2010, Naxalites killed 74 CRPF personnel and two policemen. Fifty others were wounded in a series of attacks on security convoys in Dantewada district in central Chhattisgarh. On 17 May 2010, a Naxalite landmine destroyed a bus in Dantewada district, killing up to 44 people.
(With inputs from agencies)