Raipur : The state witnessed the deadliest maoist attack. The Senior Congress leader Mahendra Karma and Chhattisgarh Congress chief Nand Kumar Patel were shot dead in the attack. Former union minister and Congress leader Vidya Charan Shukla is critically injured and is flown to a hospital in Gurgaon.

According to sources, there were around 250 attackers who used heavy explosives, i.e. improvised Explosive Device (IED) to stop the convoy and open fired at them. The security men travelling with the Congress convoy did fired back but were soon exhausted with their ammunition. 24 people, including top Congress leaders, were killed and 32 others injured in one of the deadliest attacks
Amongst them was Mr. Karma a local tribal leader, who leaded the controversial anti-Naxalite movement Salwa Judum. He had served as the states home minister for congress when in power. He had survived an assassination attempt last year. Since then he has been given Z-plus security.

Surendra Katchh, a family friend of Mr Karma, has tweeted.”Sorry, our bullets are finished, we failed to protect u said V C Shuklas PSO & Nandkumar Patels driver & shot themselves with the last bullet.”

Sources say there were indications about the operations that are crucial in the Naxal dominated area, but the local police and the top state congress leaders might have ingnored.