Incident Summary:

02/13/2010: On Saturday, suspected Communist Party of India-Maoists (CPI-M) detonated a landmine and then fired upon a mobile police patrol near Bamal village, West Midnapore, West Bengal, India. Personnel of combined forces went to investigate the area from Lalgarh camp. The landmine was detonated as the police personnel approached the area. Police personnel pursued the Maoists, who then opened fire on the personnel. The police force opened retaliatory fire, but the assailants escaped into the nearby forest. No casualties and no damages were reported. No group claimed responsibility, although it was widely believed a Maoist faction was responsible.

GTD ID:
201002130016

When:
2010-02-13

Country:
India

Region:
South Asia

Province/administrative
region/u.s. state:

West Bengal

City:
Bamal

Location Details:
The attack took place near the Bamal village in Lagarh, West Midnapore.

Attack Information
Type of Attack (more) Armed Assault
Type of Attack (more) Bombing/Explosion
Successful Attack? (more) Yes
Target Information (more)
Target Type: Police
Name of Entity Lalgarh Law Enforcement
Specific Description Police personnel
Nationality of Target India
Additional Information
Hostages No
Ransom No
Property Damage No
Weapon Information
Type Sub-type
Explosives Land Mine
Firearms Unknown Gun Type
Weapon Details
A landmine and unknown firearms were used in the attack.
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
Perpetrator Group Information
Group Name Claimed Responsibility
Communist Party of India - Maoist (CPI-Maoist) (suspected) No
Perpetrator Statistics
Number of Perpetrators Unknown
Number of Captured Perpetrators 0
Casualty Information
Total Number of Casualties 0 Fatalities / 0 Injured
Total Number of Fatalities 0
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
National Counterterrorism Center, "Police Patrol Targeted in Landmine Explosion and Armed Attack by Suspected Maoist Faction in West Midnapore, West Bengal, India," Worldwide Incidents Tracking System, July 2, 2010.
United News of India, “Gunbattle Between Police, Moaists in Lalgarh,” LexisNexis Academic, Hindustan Times, February 13, 2010.