Rebels attack relief camp, 10 villagers killed

INDIA: Hundreds of suspected communist rebels attacked a government-run relief camp and two police stations early Monday in eastern India, killing at least 10 villagers while losing four fighters, police said.

Police and paramilitary forces repelled the attack by nearly 500 rebels after a two-hour gunbattle in the district of Dantewada in Chattisgarh state, said Girdhari Naik, the inspector-general of police.

At least 10 people were also wounded in the attack on the Errabore Relief Camp, where about 4,000 villagers are staying, Naik told The Associated Press. The guerrillas also raided two police stations in the area.

"Suspected insurgents fired at villagers and set several houses in the government-run relief camp on fire," Naik said. "We have adequate force in the area to take on the rebels. We blunted a similar attack by the rebels two days ago."

The villagers had abandoned their homes and started living in the camp because of frequent attacks by the rebels in the region, nearly 550 kilometers (345 miles) south of Raipur, the state capital.

At least 300 people have been killed by the guerrillas in Chattisgarh state since local villagers launched a non-violent, anti-insurgent campaign in June last year.

They have been organizing protest marches to rally people's support against the rebel violence.

New Delhi, Monday, AP