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Naxals kill 55 policemen in Chhattisgarh

Following one of the fiercest attacks by Naxals in Chhattisgarh, in which at least 55 police personnel were killed in Bastar, the state government has announced the setting up of an expert committee to look into the Naxal problem in the state. "We want a new strategy on Naxalites to end the menace for which a committee of experts will be formed,' said Raman Singh, chief minister of Chhattisgarh.

On March 16, 2007, more than 300-armed militants, led by the military wing of the Communist Party of India-Maoist, stormed the Rani Bodli police camp in Bastar and killed police personnel with grenades, petrol bombs and indiscriminate firing and also looted weapons from the camp. The camp was housed in an ashram school building, a portion of which was being used to house 28 girls, who had a narrow escape.

Following the incident, the state Congress party has demanded the resignation of the state home minister Ram Vichar Netam.