There were tears and grim resolve Wednesday as policemen joined Home Minister P. Chidambaram in a 'martyrs ceremony' to pay homage to the 76 security personnel massacred by guerrillas in the worst attack since the Maoist rebellion began 43 years ago.

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh and Governor Shekhar Dutt were also present at Jagdalpur, the district headquarters of Bastar district, about 300 km from the state capital Raipur, at the function to remember the dead paramilitary personnel.