By Prensa Latina
New Delhi : A group of separatist combatants may have captured 12 police officers in a clash Thursday with 28 members of the Indian Special Troops in the Indian district of Dantewada, Chattisgarh State, according to official sources in New Delhi Friday.
Government spokespersons cited by Indian news agency PTI said there is a possibility that separatists captured the missing police officers.
The separatists caused several explosions and later opened fire on the police, who divided into small groups.
After the incident, five police officers reached the Gollapalli police station, and another 11 were rescued in the woods by back-up teams.
The Dantewada district is one of the most affected by the activities of Nasalita separatists, who fight for the independence of that region of India.
The separatist movement affects at least 12 Indian states, and the last action by the separatist group was Sunday in eastern Dantewada, when 300 convicts escaped from a prison after they took a weapon from a guard.
Yesterday Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said separatism is the major security challenge for the country, and urged state administrations to fight the rebels.
Several separatist groups evidently consolidated their positions and capacity in a meeting on security with different regional leaders in New Delhi.
The number of violent events attributed to separatists was 1,509 in 2006, and 1,285 until October 31, 2007. The number of dead security agents went up from 157 in 2006 to 188 by October 31, 2007.