KOLKATA:  At least 26 CRPF troops were killed and 15 wounded in an attack by Maoists in Chhattisgarh state of India Wednesday--one of the deadliest strikes by the communist rebels in recent times.   

Administration officials said a squad of Maoist guerrillas ambushed 70 CRPF troops in operation against them while the team was patrolling Dhoan thana area of Narayanpur district of the impoverished new state of the country.

“At least 26 of the central reserve police force died in the attack before they could realize anything and 15 others were critically wounded,” says a report reaching here in the West Bengal State capital.

In retaliation for the onslaught, the CRPF troops fired back on the rebels, triggering a bush war, which forced the gunmen to flee after a brief fight.       

BDST 1250 hrs June 30, 2010