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http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1429558/posts

It's now a Maoist jihad that makes India stunned!
IANS ^ | FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 2005 01:35:51 PM | IANS

Posted on 06/24/2005 2:04:17 AM PDT by CarrotAndStick

PATNA: The Centre has ordered a high-level probe after a large number of Maoist guerrillas ran amok in a Bihar district bordering Nepal reportedly killing up to 21 people.

The central home ministry asked the Bihar administration how the Maoists, apparently in hundreds, launched a massive onslaught in East Champaran district on Thursday afternoon, virtually taking over the Madhuban block for hours.

The attackers included several woman rebels dressed in military fatigues.

While a senior police officer put the death toll at around 15, other reports from the economically backward region spoke of at least 21 fatalities.

The attackers were from the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist), which has close links with Maoist guerrillas in neighbouring Nepal.

This is the first time Indian Maoists ganged up in such numbers to stage a daring attack on government institutions, banks and the local treasury anywhere in the country since the Maoist movement broke out in 1967. Such attacks are common in Nepal.

"The police are busy preparing a detailed report on the attack for the home ministry," a state home department told IANS.

Police officials could not explain how Maoist rebels entered the area in hundreds without setting off a major alert and had a free run.

"It is a matter of serious concern how the police were in the dark," one officer said.

Bihar police chief Ashish Ranjan Sinha said the police had killed over a dozen rebels and recovered the bodies of seven.

Apparently, over 300 Maoist guerrillas, including dozens of women in olive green military uniform, Thursday afternoon attacked the Madhuban bazaar, opened fire to create panic and set fire to the police station and block office, killing two policemen and a bank guard.

They also looted cash from a bank and attacked a petrol pump owned by Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP from Sheohar, Sitaram Singh.

The rebels exploded bombs, looted four rifles and ransacked the local branch of State Bank of India, Central Bank and local treasury as a part of their daredevil operation.

The guerrillas also bombed the house of Sitaram Singh and his neighbour and looted cash and jewellery.

"The Maoists did the looting for over 90 minutes without any police action," a district official said.

One source close to the RJD leader said Nepalese Maoists were also involved in the attack.