By IANS,
New Delhi: Maoist rebels have carried out at least 500 attacks killing nearly 350 people in nine states in the last three months, with Chhattisgarh recording the highest number of such strikes, parliament was told Wednesday.
Minister of State for Home Affairs Ajay Maken told the Rajya Sabha that 140 violent incidents were reported from Chhattisgarh, 111 from Jharkhand, 88 from West Bengal, 78 from Bihar and 43 in Orissa.
At least 20 such attacks by Maoist guerrillas were reported from Maharashtra, 17 from Andhra Pradesh, two in Madhya Pradesh and one in Uttar Pradesh.
He said in a written reply that 348 people, including security personnel, were killed in the attacks with Chhattisgarh again recording the highest number of 194 casualties, followed by 66 in West Bengal and 23 in Orissa.
“The CPI-Maoist and other left -wing extremist groups source their weapons primarily by looting the same from security forces,” the minister said, adding that in areas of Maoist influence, they also loot weapons from arms license holders.
“They also manufacture country-made weapons in their arms manufacturing units,” he added.