NEW DELHI — Indian officials reacted with outrage Sunday to an audacious attack by about 200 suspected Maoist rebels who killed 24 people by setting off a bomb and firing on a convoy carrying ruling party leaders and members in an insurgency-wracked state.
Saturday’s ambush, which targeted Congress party politicians returning from a campaign event with the area’s indigenous tribal community, appeared to be a warning to officials to stay away from the rebels’ main base of support.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and party President Sonia Gandhi visited some of the 37 people injured in a hospital Sunday in the Chhattisgarh state capital and said the government would take firm action against the perpetrators.