In a Maoist-triggered landmine blast in Orissa’s Malkangiri district on July 16, 20 policemen were killed. The policemen were returning after visiting a village which the Maoists had attacked. The impact of the powerful blast threw the vehicle of the policemen about 50m into the air. This was the second major Maoist strike in the district in less than 20 days1.

Meanwhile, on July 16, Union Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta chaired a high-level meeting in New Delhi to review the Naxal/Maoist situation in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh. The meeting reviewed the progress of implementation of the Integrated Action Plans (IAP), involving the development of the worst-affected districts. Following the meeting, Gupta announced the setting up of six jungle warfare and counter-insurgency schools within the current year to train commando forces being raised by the Maoist-affected states2.

In other developments, the Maharashtra government on July 17 approved a Rs. 51.6 million proposal to grant incentives to villages in the Gadchiroli and Gondia districts that denied entry to the Naxalites3.

• 1. “Maoists kill 20 policemen,” The Hindu, July 17, 2008, at http://www.hindu.com/2008/07/17/stories/2008071756950100.htm
• 2. “Union Home ministry reviews left-wing extremism situation,” South Asia Terrorism Portal, July 17, 2008, at http://satp.org/satporgtp/detailed_news.asp?date1=7/17/2008#14
• 3. “Maharashtra Government to reward villages that deny entry to Maoists,” South Asia Terrorism Portal, July 18, 2008, at http://satp.org/satporgtp/detailed_news.asp?date1=7/18/2008#12