Prachanda, Koirala express grief over Naxal attack

Kathmandu: "Shocked" by the recent Naxal attack in Chattisgarh, Maoist chief Prachanda and Nepali Congress president Sushil Koirala have sent condolence messages to Sonia Gandhi over the ambush in which 27 people, including senior Congress leaders, were killed.

"Our party UCPN-Maoist is deeply shocked and saddened by the demise of leaders and workers of the Indian National Congress in the recent attack in Chattisgarh of India unleashed by Indian Maoists," UCPN-Maoist chairman Prachanda said in a statement. "The incident of violent attack has drawn the attention of our party", he said, expressing "serious concern" over the incident. "We join with you in this incident in which 27 people including leaders and workers of the Indian National Congress were killed," Prachanda said in a condolence message sent to Congress president Sonia Gandhi. "I, personally, and on behalf my party, express deepest condolence to the families of those killed and wish for the speedy recovery of those injured in the incident," Prachanda said. Nepali Congress president Sushil Koirala in his condolence letter to the Congress president said, "I am extremely shocked and deeply saddened by the news of the death of senior Congress I leader Mahendra Karma, other leaders and cadres of your party along with other innocent people in the ambush by the Maoists in Chattisgarh." Strongly condemning the "barbaric act of terror", Koirala said "there is no place in civilised societies for such senseless and barbaric acts". Expressing heartfelt condolence over the incident, Koirala said, "Nepal and Nepali Congress are opposed to the use of violence in politics and will always condemn such acts of terror against unarmed civilians and political workers". Similarly, former Prime Minister and chairman of Rastriya Prajatantra party Surya Bahadur Thapa has also expressed sadness over the incident and "strongly condemned such horrifying act of terrorism". "I am deeply saddened and shocked to hear the news about the loss of lives including Chattisgarh Congress Committee Chief Nanda Kumar Patel and his son, senior member of Chattisgarh Indian National Congress Mahendra Karma and other prominent politicians," Thapa said in a statement. "This monstrous and cowardly act of terrorism on innocent lives will be condemned by all peace loving people," he said. Heavily-armed Maoists ambushed a convoy of Congress leaders in Darbha on May 25, killing 27 people including PCC chief N K Patel, his son Dinesh, Congress leader Mahendra Karma and ex-MLA Uday Mudliyar and injured 37 others, including former Union minister V C Shukla. PTI