Incident Summary:

05/16/2006: ‘Leftist extremists’ set off a landmine on a street in the Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra (State), India, killing twelve people who were part of a marriage party. Authorities believe that the perpetrators mistook the marriage party vehicles for police forces. No claim of responsibility was reported.

GTD ID:
200605160002

When:
2006-05-16

Country:
India

Region:
South Asia

Province/administrative
region/u.s. state:

Maharashtra

City:
Halewara

Location Details:
The landmine was said to have been exploded at Halewara near Kasansur forest in Gadchiroli district of south-eastern Maharashtra. The attack obviously happened on a street.

Attack Information
Type of Attack (more) Bombing/Explosion
Successful Attack? (more) Yes
Target Information (more)
Target Type: Police
Name of Entity Indian Police Forces
Specific Description Indian Police Forces in Maharashtra State
Nationality of Target India
Additional Information
Hostages No
Ransom No
Property Damage Yes
Extent of Property Damage Minor (likely < $1 million)
Value of Property Damage Unknown
Weapon Information
Type Sub-type
Explosives Land Mine
Weapon Details
The perpetrators "set off a landmine."
Additional Information
Suicide Attack?No
Part of Multiple Incident?No
Criterion 1 (more) Yes
Criterion 2 (more) Yes
Criterion 3 (more) Yes
Doubt Terrorism Proper (more) No
Additional Information The source blames 'leftist extremists' for incident and states that they are largely "active in ill-connected and remote areas of India." Police 'presumed' that the perpetrators accidently used the landmine on the marriage party, thinking it was police traveling in a private vehicle. Apparently the 12 victims were all travelling in one vehicle.
Perpetrator Group Information
Group Name Claimed Responsibility
Unknown No
Perpetrator Statistics
Number of Perpetrators Unknown
Number of Captured Perpetrators 0
Casualty Information
Total Number of Casualties 12 Fatalities / 0 Injured
Total Number of Fatalities 12
Number of U.S. Fatalities 0
Number of Perpetrator Fatalities 0
Total Number of Injured 0
Number of U.S. Injured 0
Number of Perpetrators Injured 0
Sources
“Indian "leftists" kill 12 in landmine blast,” New Delhi PTI News Agency, May 16, 2006