At least 16 people, including two politicians, were killed in India on Saturday after suspected Maoist rebels detonated a land mine and fired on a convoy of cars, the Associated Press reports.
The cars were carrying local leaders and supporters of India’s ruling Congress party in eastern India about 215 miles south of Raipur, police said. At least 25 others were wounded in the attack.
Two state party leaders and five police officers were among those killed, said R.K. Vij, a top state police officer. The suspected rebels also took away a local party leader, Nand Kumar Patel, and his son, Mr. Vij said.
“We are devastated,” said Congress party President Sonia Gandhi, who denounced what she called a “dastardly attack” on the country’s democratic values, AP reports.
The rebels, known as Naxalites, have been fighting the central government for more than four decades, AP reports.
• Jessica Chasmar can be reached at jchasmar@washingtontimes.com.
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