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24 Indian soldiers killed in Maoist mine blast

AFP, New Delhi
At least 24 paramilitary soldiers were killed yesterday in a powerful landmine blast triggered by suspected Maoist rebels in eastern India, a federal minister said.
The vehicle carrying the soldiers passed over the mine in Bijapur district in the state of Chhattisgarh, some 1,100 kilometres (700 miles) southeast of New Delhi.
Three of the soldiers who survived the blast were battling for their lives in hospital, officials said. The blast shattered the vehicle.
"We suspect that the Maoists are behind the incident. It is a blow to the state because the Maoist situation was improving in Chhattisgarh
when the incident happened," said federal junior home minister Shriprakash Jaiswal.
He said the attack was aimed at derailing peace efforts.
Maoists have strongholds in at least five of India's 29 states including the eastern states of Bihar, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh. They say they are battling for greater social and economic rights for indigenous tribes and landless farmers.
The three-decade-old conflict has claimed thousands of lives.
"They used a powerful explosive and that is why the toll is so high," said Arvind Vichar Netam, Chhattisgarh's home minister.
New Delhi says left-wing rebels
operating in India have ties with Maoist guerrillas in neighbouring Nepal who are fighting to overthrow the monarchy and install a communistrepublic.
"Our government has been trying to resolve the Maoist problem and we are confident you will see a solution emerging over the longterm," Jaiswal said.
He said the federal government had advised state governments to boost economic and social development in insurgency-hit areas to resolve the problem.
"We have told the state governments that unless you try to address the problem of development in these areas, you will not be able to solve the problem. We are doing the maximum possible to bring peace to these regions," Jaiswal added.
Last month Maoist guerrillas ambushed officials returning from an event celebrating India's Independence Day in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh, killing nine of them.
The incident happened days after the Indian government rejected a parliamentary panel's recommendation for direct peace talks between the federal government and banned Maoist groups. The federal government said it would offer assistance to states fighting the insurgents.
After the ambush in Andhra Pradesh, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh promised to hunt down the Maoist rebels responsible for the deaths. He also urged Maoist groups to take part in electoral politics instead of armed rebellion.