Over 1,100 killed in Naxal violence in 6 years: C'garh govt

The Chhattisgarh government on Tuesday said that over 1,100 people, including security personnel, have lost their lives in Naxal violence in the state in the past six years, with the highest causalities of 392 reported in Bijapur district.

In a written reply to a question by Congress legislator Kuldeep Singh Juneja in the state assembly, Home Minister Nankiram Kanwar informed, "Total 3,089 Naxal incidents took place in the state from January 2008 till June 20 this year. In these incidents, 1,181 people, including 696 civilians, 233 policemen and 252 paramilitary troopers were killed."

Figures tabled in the House showed that the highest number of causalities were in the southern district of Bijapur, where a total of 392 people including 284 civilians, 70 policemen and 38 paramilitaries lost their lives in 934 naxal incidents that took place between 2008-June 2013.

After Bijapur, its neighbouring district Dantewada, a Maoist hotbed, saw second highest causalities numbering 305 followed by Kanker (119), Narayanpur (110), Rajnandgaon (84), Bastar (81), Sukma (30), Dhamtari (18), Gariyaband (14), Balrampur (8) and Kondagaon (7).

Balod and Balodabazar districts saw four causalities each, Mahsamund two while Raigarh, Jashpur and Sarguja witnessed one death each.

Image: Policemen carry flag-draped coffins of their colleagues in Raipur, who were killed in a Naxal strike

Photograph: Reuters