Incident Summary:

04/06/2010: On Tuesday, in the Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh, India, Communist Party of India- Maoist (CPI-M) cadres opened fire with small arms and detonated a land mine targeting a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) vehicle, killing 76 security personnel, including 15 commandos of the Combat Battalion for Resolute Action (Cobra) force. The Maoists claimed responsibility and admitted to losing eight of its cadres in the attack. Godsa Usendi, spokesman of the outfit's Dandakaranya special zone committee, stated that about two companies (300 men) of People's Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) participated in the operation. He also claimed that the attack, which they had planned for five to six months, had three objectives: crippling Operation Green Hunt, avenging the killing of top leaders in fake encounters, and saving the people of Bastar region.

GTD ID:
201004060005

When:
2010-04-06

Country:
India

Region:
South Asia

Province/administrative
region/u.s. state:

Chhattisgarh

City:
Dantewada district

Location Details:
The attack took place in the Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh, India.

Attack Information
Type of Attack (more) Armed Assault
Type of Attack (more) Bombing/Explosion
Successful Attack? (more) Yes
Target Information (more)
Target Type: Military
Name of Entity Indian COBRA Military Forces
Specific Description Fifteen COBRA commandos were targeted.
Nationality of Target India
Target Type: Police
Name of Entity India Law Enforcement
Specific Description Central Reserve Police Force personnel
Nationality of Target India
Target Type: Police
Name of Entity India Law Enforcement
Specific Description A Central Reserve Police Force vehicle was targeted.
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
Firearms Unknown Gun Type
Explosives Land Mine
Weapon Details
Unknown firearms and one landmine 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) No
Doubt Terrorism Proper (more) Yes
Alternate Designation (more) Insurgency/Guerilla Action
Additional Information The most recent available sources listed the fatalities for this attack from 55 to 76, and reported no injuries, so the majority casualty figures have been used in order to preserve statistical accuracy in the database.
Perpetrator Group Information
Group Name Claimed Responsibility
Communist Party of India - Maoist (CPI-Maoist) Yes (Confirmed: Unknown; Mode: Unknown)
Perpetrator Statistics
Number of Perpetrators 300
Number of Captured Perpetrators 0
Casualty Information
Total Number of Casualties 82 Fatalities / 0 Injured
Total Number of Fatalities 82
Number of U.S. Fatalities 0
Number of Perpetrator Fatalities 8
Total Number of Injured 0
Number of U.S. Injured 0
Number of Perpetrators Injured 0
Sources
Pioneer, "India: Maoists Say Six Apr Attack on Security Men After Five-Six Months of Preparation," World News Connection, Pioneer, April 09, 2010.
Agence France Presse, "AFP: Indian Maoists Kill Fifty-Five Policemen in Ambush," World News Connection, Agence France Presse, April 6, 2010.
Daily Pak Banker, "India: Maoists Kill 76 Security Men; Govt Vows to Hit Back," LexisNexis Academic, Daily Pak Banker, April 8, 2010.