As many as 40 Naxalites, which included prominent leaders, cadres and 10 women, were involved in the deadly attack in Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra. A top intelligence officer said each was hand-picked to avenge last year's killing of 40 of their comrades in two separate encounters.
While the Kasanasur encounter was a joint operation of the C-60 commandos and Battalion 9 of the CRPF, the Rajaram encounter was carried by the C-60 commandos.
Sources say the idea was to terrorise security forces by deploying the same number of Naxalites as those killed in the massive operation in the same area. There were also as many as 13 specific intelligence reports about the attack, but it is not known why they were not considered.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has sought a detailed report from Maharashtra government and directed the Central Armed Police Force, especially the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), to start a special combing operation to nab the perpetrators.
The government has also given orders to take "all necessary measures, if needed extreme measures", to ensure that the attackers are brought to justice. "We discussed the situation will other stakeholders and even Maharashtra Police, and it is clear that there was a tactical failure on part of the Quick Response Team (QRT) of Gadchiroli police," said a senior official. The government is awaiting ground reports to deploy CRPF teams in those areas. Terming the attack an act of cowardice and desperation, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has assured all help to the Maharashtra government. "The attack on the Maharashtra Police personnel in Gadchiroli is an act of cowardice and desperation," he said in a statement, "We are providing all assistance needed by the state government. The Home Ministry is in constant touch with the state administration." The Home Minister said the country was extremely proud of the valour of police personnel and their supreme sacrifice while serving the nation will not go in vain.
