NAXALITE rebels in India have struck back at the state forces trying to crush the desperate uprising of the rural poor.
They blew up a private bus packed with serving police and new recruits, killing up to 50 of them.
While corporate media made much of the deaths of 'civilians' in the attack, The Hindu revealed that "the civilians comprised youth appearing for a constabulary exam" and quoted a police officers as explaining: “Currently we are in the midst of a recruitment drive.”
Reported the LA Times: "The 4:15 p.m. bombing occurred in the Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh, a mineral-rich state that had been the site of fierce fighting between Maoist rebels and government forces in recent months.
"Police said the explosion killed at least 19 civilians and 16 police officers, though other sources placed the death toll as high as 50. The same area saw an attack last month that killed 76 police officers."
Even India's home minister, Palaniappan Chidambaram, admitted the state has provoked the angry rebels, saying: "There are police excesses. Government has to answer when human rights are violated deliberately."
Added the LA Times report: "Maoist rebels, concentrated in some of India's poorest states, have won support from the poor, especially landless peasants, who are angry over local corruption, weak governance and the growing wealth gap. Despite India's high economic growth rates, vast numbers have not seen any improvement in their lives.
"Maoists operate in 20 of India's 28 states and have from 10,000 to 20,000 fighters, according to the Home Ministry."
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