Suspected leftist insurgents killed at least 15 police and a civilian driver in a landmine attack on two security vehicles in Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli district on Wednesday, police said, as the state celebrated its foundation day. The Maoist insurgents, known as Naxals, have battled the state for decades, saying they are fighting for people left out of a long economic boom in Asia’s third-largest economy. Security forces killed at least 37 Maoist militants last year in Gadchiroli. The incident took place at Dadapur in Kurkheda tehsil, Shailesh Balkawade, Superintendent of Police, Gadchiroli told. “A group of Maoists gathered around 3.30 am at Dadapur where the construction of a national highway has been going on since the last few months,” he said. They torched the vehicles, which were parked along the road, using kerosene and diesel, the officer added.
