VZCZCXRO1994
RR RUEHBI RUEHCI
DE RUEHCI #0212/01 2030754
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 210754Z JUL 08
FM AMCONSUL KOLKATA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2076
INFO RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 1951
RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI 0901
RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI 0906
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 0593
RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 0191
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 0450
RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 0611
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA 2537

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KOLKATA 000212 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ASEC PTER PGOV PHUM IN
SUBJECT: 21 KILLED IN FRESH MAOIST ATTACK IN ORISSA 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary:  On July 16, Communist Party of India - Maoist 
(Maoists) insurgents killed at least 21 people, including 17 
policemen, by blowing up an anti-landmine vehicle in the 
Malkangiri district of the eastern Indian State of Orissa.  This 
is the first time in Orissa an anti-landmine vehicle was blown 
up by landmines set by the Maoists.  The attack came barely 18 
days after the Maoists had killed over 30 anti-Maoist greyhound 
commandos of the Andhra Pradesh police in the same area on June 
¶29.  These attacks reflect a recent increase in Maoist violence 
in eastern India.  The Orissa government is concerned about the 
Maoists' strong logistical capacity to mount large, well-armed 
assaults on even anti-landmine patrol vehicles.   On July 16 the 
Union government announced that six jungle warfare and counter 
insurgency schools will be set up this year to train commando 
forces raised by the four affected states of Chattisgarh, Andhra 
Pradesh, Orissa and Jharkhand.  End Summary. 
 
¶2.  (SBU) An official of Orissa's Home Department informed post 
that the attack on the Orissa's Special Operation Group (SOG) of 
the police was conducted by the Maoists and resulted in 21 
deaths, including 17 security forces, in the southwestern 
Malkangiri district of the state.  The source added that apart 
from the SOG members, there were four "informers and helpers" 
traveling in the vehicle.  All the victims were traveling in an 
anti-landmine vehicle and were returning from the house of a 
local Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader that was attacked and 
looted by suspected Maoists on July 15.  This is also the first 
time in Orissa that an anti-landmine vehicle was hit by 
landmines set by the Maoists. 
 
¶3.  (SBU) The blast was also followed by an exchange of fire 
between the Maoists and about 10 security forces following the 
vehicle in their motorcycles.  Home Department sources added 
that although a detailed spot report has not yet been filed, it 
seems that the anti-landmine vehicle was not totally destroyed 
in the blast, and that the SOG members were gunned down by the 
Maoists when they tried to come out from the overturned vehicle. 
 The Maoist fled the scene after a brief encounter.  This second 
major attack came 18 days after the Maoists had killed over 30 
anti-Maoist greyhound commandos of the Andhra Pradesh police in 
the same district on June 29. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) The Maoist attack occurred on a day when senior 
officials of the Union government and four Maoist-affected 
states - Orissa, Chattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh and Jharkhand - 
were meeting in New Delhi to address the increasing security 
threat from Maoists.  While addressing the meeting, the Union 
Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta announced that six jungle warfare 
and counter-insurgency schools will be set up this year to train 
the commando forces raised by the four affected states.  The 
location of the school has not yet been decided.  Gupta stressed 
the need for strengthening intelligence network and 
modernization of the security forces.  The Union government has 
also asked all the affected states to fill up vacancies in the 
police forces. 
 
 
 
21 killed in fresh Maoist attack in Orissa 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary:  On July 16, Communist Party of India - Maoist 
(Maoists) insurgents killed at least 21 people, including 17 
policemen, by blowing up an anti-landmine vehicle in the 
Malkangiri district of the eastern Indian State of Orissa.  This 
is the first time in Orissa an anti-landmine vehicle was blown 
up by landmines set by the Maoists.  The attack came barely 18 
days after the Maoists had killed over 30 anti-Maoist greyhound 
commandos of the Andhra Pradesh police in the same area on June 
¶29.  These attacks reflect a recent increase in Maoist violence 
in eastern India.  The Orissa government is concerned about the 
Maoists' strong logistical capacity to mount large, well-armed 
assaults on even anti-landmine patrol vehicles.   On July 16 the 
Union government announced that six jungle warfare and counter 
insurgency schools will be set up this year to train commando 
forces raised by the four affected states of Chattisgarh, Andhra 
Pradesh, Orissa and Jharkhand.  End Summary. 
 
¶2.  (SBU) An official of Orissa's Home Department informed post 
that the attack on the Orissa's Special Operation Group (SOG) of 
the police was conducted by the Maoists and resulted in 21 
deaths, including 17 security forces, in the southwestern 
 
KOLKATA 00000212  002 OF 002 
 
 
Malkangiri district of the state.  The source added that apart 
from the SOG members, there were four "informers and helpers" 
traveling in the vehicle.  All the victims were traveling in an 
anti-landmine vehicle and were returning from the house of a 
local Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader that was attacked and 
looted by suspected Maoists on July 15.  This is also the first 
time in Orissa that an anti-landmine vehicle was hit by 
landmines set by the Maoists. 
 
¶3.  (SBU) The blast was also followed by an exchange of fire 
between the Maoists and about 10 security forces following the 
vehicle in their motorcycles.  Home Department sources added 
that although a detailed spot report has not yet been filed, it 
seems that the anti-landmine vehicle was not totally destroyed 
in the blast, and that the SOG members were gunned down by the 
Maoists when they tried to come out from the overturned vehicle. 
 The Maoist fled the scene after a brief encounter.  This second 
major attack came 18 days after the Maoists had killed over 30 
anti-Maoist greyhound commandos of the Andhra Pradesh police in 
the same district on June 29. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) The Maoist attack occurred on a day when senior 
officials of the Union government and four Maoist-affected 
states - Orissa, Chattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh and Jharkhand - 
were meeting in New Delhi to address the increasing security 
threat from Maoists.  While addressing the meeting, the Union 
Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta announced that six jungle warfare 
and counter-insurgency schools will be set up this year to train 
the commando forces raised by the four affected states.  The 
location of the school has not yet been decided.  Gupta stressed 
the need for strengthening intelligence network and 
modernization of the security forces.  The Union government has 
also asked all the affected states to fill up vacancies in the 
police forces. 
 
¶5.  (SBU) Comment:  Maoist violence appears to be on the rise in 
the isolated rural districts along the border of Orissa and 
Andhra Pradesh.  The attacks demonstrate that the Maoists have 
the organizational and logistical capacity to support larger 
combat operations than they have normally undertaken in the 
past.  While the Union government move to set up training 
schools to contain Maoists violence indicates a willingness to 
meet this rising challenge head-on, it remains to be seen if 1) 
how soon these schools can be up and running, and 2) how 
effective they can be given the deteriorating security situation 
in many of the districts where the schools would presumably be 
located. 
KELLY