2013 Naxal attack in Darbha valley

2013 Naxal attack in Darbha valley
Part of Naxalite-Maoist insurgency
Darbha valley Darbha valley (India) Location of Darbha valley in India
Coordinates
Date	25 May 2013 (2013-05-25) 04.00 pm (UTC+5.30)
Target	Indian National Congress leaders
Attack type	Landmine blast and firing
Weapons	Guns and landmine
Deaths	27 (as of 26 May 2013)
Injured	32
Victims	Mahendra Karma Nand Kumar Patel Uday Mudaliyar Phulo Devi Netam
Perpetrators	Around 250 Maoist Naxalites

On 25 May 2013, Naxalite insurgents of the Communist Party of India (Maoist) attacked a convoy of Indian National Congress leaders in the Darbha Valley in the Sukma district of Chhattisgarh, India. The attack caused at least 27 deaths, including that of former state minister Mahendra Karma and Chhattisgarh Congress chief Nand Kumar Patel.

Background

Sukma district is a part of the "red corridor", the belt affected by the Naxalite–Maoist insurgency. This region has been under continuous attack by the Maoists, who have been targeting police personnel and political leaders. The then Union Home Minister P Chidambaram had proposed to carry out counter offensive in the entire Bastar region but had to call off because of opposition from party leaders including Digvijay Singh and some members of the National Advisory Council headed by Sonia Gandhi. Naxalites had called for a bandh on 25 and 26 May 2013 to protest the 17 May 2013 operation against them by the security forces during an anti-Naxalite operation in which eight tribals were also killed, including three children. Naxalites were also protesting the conduct of "Vikas Yatra" of the Government and the "Parivartan Yatra" of the opposition Indian National Congress Party.

Maoists carry out a campaign called "Tactical Counter Offensive Campaign" (TCOC) which runs from April to early Monsoon in July. The thick Dharba forests provide them a good cover to hit and scoot. Congress leaders were warned about the possibility of an attack during their yatra. Later investigations revealed that Raman Singh Government's Vikas Yatra was also set as a target during his 7 May 2013 visit. However the plan could not succeed. Naxalites were enraged with the mobilisation of 2500-3000 security force personnel in the region in the then recent times. Their central commission hence allowed them to target the Parivartan Ralley.

Attack

Leaders of the Indian National Congress were carrying out a Parivartan Yatra ("Change" Rally) in the state, with a convoy of 25 vehicles carrying around 200 Congress leaders and workers. They were returning from a meeting organized in Sukma and were headed to Keshloor nearby Jagdalpur along National Highway 221 which connects Chhattisgarh with Krishna district in the adjacent state of Andhra Pradesh. Almost all the senior state party leaders; former Union Minister Vidya Charan Shukla, former state minister Mahendra Karma, Nand Kumar Patel, Uday Mudaliyar, senior Congress leader Gopi Madhwani, and prominent woman tribal leader Phulo Devi Netam from Bastar were present. As the convoy reached the deeply forested area of Dharba valley on Jagdalpur-Sukma Highway, 50 km from its destination, it was blocked by a tree that had been felled by Maoists. The Maoists triggered an IED near the fourth vehicle in the convoy, completely damaging the vehicle and leaving a crater in the ground. In an attempt to flee, several vehicles collided with each other. As the vehicles slowed down, around 250 Maoists who had hidden themselves in the adjoining hill tops of the Keshkal hills opened fire from both the sides. The personnel security officers of the Congress leaders took positions and tried to defend them; firing continued for over 90 minutes. The Maoists waited for the PSOs to run out of ammunition before asking the Congress leaders to surrender. The Maoists, however, started firing indiscriminately when the Congress leaders emerged out of their vehicles. Eyewitness said that when the Maoists struck, the mobile phones of all leaders were also taken.

Perpetrators

A Maoist issued statement, signed by Gudsa Usendi on behalf of DKSZC, took full responsibility for the attack, and narrated as the punishment for Salwa Judum founder Mahendra Karma. Though they expressed regret over the killing of low congress functionaries and other innocents. The Maoist-Naxalites who carried out the attack were the members of the Dhand Karineya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZC). "Pandu", who had taken over as the 'Divisional Commander' of DKSZC after Ganesh Uike was removed, is believed to be the behind the attack. The initial firing on the convoy was through country-made weapons and later the Maoists used automatic weapons. Eyewitness said that when the Maoists struck, the mobile phones of all leaders were also snatched. The attacking Naxalites included a large number of women, and they kept communicating on their wireless sets during the operation.

Victims

Around 28 people were killed in the attack which included twelve Congress leaders and workers, eight police and CRPF jawans and four other villagers. There was crossfire between Mahendra Karma's guards and the Naxalites, but when his defenders ran out of bullets, Karma surrendered along with various other Congress leaders. Naxalites then asked Congress leaders there to identify him. Karma came forward and identified himself. Naxalites then took him away and beat him. They then sprayed him with bullets and fired at him till their magazines were empty, and then beat him again about the head with the butts of their guns. They also raised the slogans Mahendra Karma Murdabad.

MLA Uday Mudaliyar, fomer MP and Gopal Madhavan were among the others killed in the gun fire. Vidya Charan Shukla sustained 3 bullets wounds, and was among several others who were critically injured. Nand Kumar and Dinesh jumped out of the car; the two were found dead a day later. Following the attack, the Naxals abducted Patel, his son and few other leaders. Around 6 pm they asked others to leave except Patel and his son. Their bullet ridden bodies were later recovered from the forest at the ambush site. At least ten security personnel, all of them personal security officers of Congress leaders were also gunned down.

According to eyewitnesses, Vidya Chanran Shukla's Personal Security Officer, Prafulla Shukla shot himself with the last bullet he was left with after the shootout apologizing and regretting that he could not protect him.

Survivors

However, many people of the convoy survived and some were let off by Naxalites.

Rescue operation and reactions

Darbha police station was at a distance of 10 km and a major CRPF camp was also nearby. However their way was blocked by trees that the naxalites felled. It took security reinforcements several hours to reach the spot as they had to walk for fear that land mines had been planted on the road leading to the area. This is because in past it has been seen that Maoists plant mines in and around such spot of attacks to target security forces rushing for rescue and relief operations Prime Minister Manmohan Singh reviewed the situation with Congress President Sonia Gandhi and other senior leaders. The PM called up chief minister Raman Singh to offer para-military reinforcements. Raman Singh had returned to Raipur, cancelling his Vikas Yatra, to hold an emergency meeting of the state cabinet. A three-day state mourning has been declared and all those who died in the attack will be given a state funeral.

Injured were admitted in the Maharani Medical College in Jagdalpur. Critically injured Shukla was shifted to Raipur and then airlifted to Medanta Hospital in Gurgaon. Other injured were later brought to Ramkrishna Care hospital in Raipur. Manmohan Singh, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Raman Singh and other leaders went to hospital to meet the injured.

The Centre rushed more than 600 CRPF personnel, including the CoBRA anti-Maoist commandos, to sanitise and take control of the Naxal attack site in Chhattisgarh. The Centre has mobilised the CRPF personnel to not only take control of the area but also launch search and rescue operations as it is suspected that some people may be present in nearby jungles.

The Prime Minister announced ₹ 500,000 each as ex-gratia relief from the National Relief Fund for families of those killed and ₹ 50,000 each for those injured. Chief Minister Raman Singh announced a separate ₹ 500,000 ex-gratia to the families of those killed, additionally asserting that the country will never bow before Naxalism. While addressing party workers at Congress Bhavan in Raipur he said, "We will pursue the perpetrators of this crime with urgency and I can assure the nation that the Government is committed to bringing them to justice." President Pranab Mukherjee said the nation will neither be overawed nor intimidated by such actions. Leader of Opposition in Loksabha, Sushma Swaraj condemned the attacks and termed it to be shocking and most unfortunate.

Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh said that the Maoist-Naxalites had no faith whatsoever in the political system, democracy, electoral politics and constitutional values and all the talk of tribal welfare for them is a sham and is an excuse, and an alibi for perpetrating the violent overthrow of a democratic system. He said that Government shall "intensify" the development works in the 20-25 most affected districts.

Post attack measures and investigation

Union Home minister Sushilkumar Shinde ordered an investigation by the National Investigation Agency. It reached the state on 27 May 2013 and began its probe to find out possible lapses on the part of the central forces or the state government. Union Ministry of Home Affairs also sent an advisory to all the Naxal-hit states asking to thoroughly review the security of political leaders - both national and regional parties and, if necessary, their protection should be upgraded. As one such measure, Chief Minister, Raman Singh was provided on the following day with Z+ protection with National Security Guard commandos.

Union Minister Ramesh ruled out the possibility of talk with the Maoists stating that it was not the time to talk with them.