This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/8529619.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
India Maoist rebels attack police | India Maoist rebels attack police |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Maoist rebels have attacked a police camp in India's West Bengal state, hours after a top Maoist leader offered a conditional ceasefire, police say. | |
Three rebels were killed during the clash in the Lalgarh area, police say. Activists say the killings were staged. | |
The government, which recently launched a major offensive against the rebels, want the ceasefire offer "in writing". | |
The rebels want communist rule in large parts of India. More than 6,000 people have died during their 20-year fight. | The rebels want communist rule in large parts of India. More than 6,000 people have died during their 20-year fight. |
On Monday, rebel leader Koteswara Rao offered a 72-day ceasefire across central and western India - as long as a government offensive against them was halted. | |
Koteswara Rao, also known as Kishenji, did not however offer direct negotiations, saying the right atmosphere for talks must exist first. | |
'No conditions' | 'No conditions' |
Federal home minister P Chidambaram responded by saying he would like a "short simple statement" from the rebels "saying: 'We will abjure violence and we are prepared for talks'." | |
"I would like no ifs, no buts and no conditions," he added. | "I would like no ifs, no buts and no conditions," he added. |
Separately, senior West Bengal police official Manoj Verma told the BBC that the bodies of three rebels had been found after the attack on the camp in West Bengal. | Separately, senior West Bengal police official Manoj Verma told the BBC that the bodies of three rebels had been found after the attack on the camp in West Bengal. |
"Villagers have told us that the escaping rebels dragged away two more bodies of their dead colleagues," he said. | "Villagers have told us that the escaping rebels dragged away two more bodies of their dead colleagues," he said. |
One of the dead was identified as Lalmohan Tudu, a senior leader of a Maoist-backed local militia. | One of the dead was identified as Lalmohan Tudu, a senior leader of a Maoist-backed local militia. |
Local human rights activists alleged that the police had staged the killing of the three men. | Local human rights activists alleged that the police had staged the killing of the three men. |
"The policemen entered a house where the three were having dinner and opened unprovoked fire, killing them," rights activist Nisha Biswas said in a statement. | "The policemen entered a house where the three were having dinner and opened unprovoked fire, killing them," rights activist Nisha Biswas said in a statement. |
Analysts say the rebels may have offered the ceasefire to regroup and consolidate their defences in the middle of a major offensive by security forces. | Analysts say the rebels may have offered the ceasefire to regroup and consolidate their defences in the middle of a major offensive by security forces. |