Maoist attack in India kills 50

ISN SECURITY WATCH (Tuesday, 28 February: 12.10 CET) - Maoist guerrillas detonated a land mine on Tuesday, killing at least 50 tribal villagers who were said to belong to a government-sponsored anti-Maoist group, news agencies reported.

The villagers were returning from an anti-Maoist campaign organized by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the main opposition Congress party.

Two trucks carrying villagers were apparently blown up by landmines Darmagura area, reports said.

Darmagura is a Maoist stronghold. The Maoists claim to be fighting for more rights for peasants and laborers. The Maoists recently have stepped up attacks in India, where they are said to operate in at least nine of the country's 29 states.

On Sunday, rebels raided a government-run relief camp in same area, killing two people and injuring 25 others, reports said.

Police said that around 200 rebels armed with rifles stormed the relief camp killing two refugees.

Last month, rebels killed eight people in an attack on a relief camp in area forcing the state government to increase security in and around all the camps.