Maoists' brutality in Chhattisgarh condemned universally

New Delhi, April 7 (ANI): The brutality caused by a group of Maoists to the Central Reserve Police Force personnel in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district in which 76 jawans were killed on Tuesday, has drawn universal condemnation in the country.

While people of the country are horrified at inhuman attack by Maoists, the political parties here have condemned it in one voice.

Reacting upon the Dantewada incident, Congress General Secretary Janardan Dwivedi said it was "most inhuman, condemnable and an attack on civil society".

Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said the "cornered" Maoists were "feeling the heat" because of the joint operations of the security forces and were "reacting in this manner....Perhaps, this is a short-term price we are paying for starting a relentless battle against them."

Condemnation across party lines of Tuesday's Maoist attack in Chhattisgarh was swift, with BJP leaders also accusing the UPA of going soft on the rebels.

Offering full support to the Government in case it takes any action against the rebellious Maoists, Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy said: "There should be a fight to the finish."

Leader of the Opposition in Raj Sabha and senior BJP leader, Arun Jaitley said: "Today, we pay our homage to the CRPF jawans who died in Chhattisgarh. The integrity of the nation is under threat."

Stating that 200 districts, a third of the country, were under Maoist control, he said: "Those who defend the Maoists, including human rights groups, are over-ground faces of these underground organisations."

Describing the attack as "dastardly, shocking and barbaric", West Bengal government's Chief Secretary Ashok Mohan Chakraborty said: "Except persons with a sick mentality, everyone should condemn such incidents."

Reacting upon the incident, Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said: "What has happened today (April 6) in Chhattishgarh is a ....tragic incident.....Those who do not believe in the law of the land and indulge in such terrible crimes should be firmly dealt with."

On Tuesday morning, Naxals trapped and gunned down 75 CRPF personnel during a joint security offensive against the ultras in the thick forests of Dantewada's Mukrana area. It is known as one of the strongholds of the Maoists.

The shocking incident occurred between 6 am and 7 am when nearly 100 personnel comprising CRPF and state police were returning after opening a road for the troops to begin an operation against the Naxals. (ANI)