->Kahtar at 17:42, 21 November 2021

2021-11-21T17:42:45Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2019}}
{{Infobox military conflict
|conflict=Balimela reservoir boat attack
|partof=[[Naxalite-Maoist insurgency]]
|date=29 June 2008
|image=
|caption=
|place=[[Balimela reservoir]], [[Orissa, India|Orissa]], India
|result=Naxalite-Maoist victory
|combatant1=[[File:South Asian Communist Banner.svg|22px]] [[Communist Party of India (Maoist)]]
|combatant2={{flag|India}}
|combatant3=
|commander2=
|units1 = CPI (Maoist) cadres
|units2 = {{ubl|[[Greyhounds (police)|Greyhounds]]|Local police}}
|strength1=Unknown
|strength2={{ubl|60 Greyhounds|5 police officers|1 civilian boat operator}}
|strength3=
|casualties1=None
|casualties2={{ubl|32 Greyhounds killed|5 police killed|Boat operator killed}}
|casualties3=
|notes=
}}
{{Campaignbox Naxalite insurgency}}

The '''Balimela reservoir boat attack''' occurred on 29 June 2008 when [[Communist Party of India (Maoist)]] forces ambushed a boat on the [[Balimela Reservoir]] in [[Odisha|Orissa]], India carrying 60 [[Greyhounds (police)|Greyhounds]] commandos, 5 police officers, and a boat operator. The boat sunk, killing 38 people, while 27 survived.<ref>[http://newsagency.thecheers.org/South-Asia/news_32290_MHA-spokesperson-on-Wednesdays-Naxal-incident-in-Orissa.html MHA spokesperson on Wednesday's Naxal incident in Orissa], The Cheers news agency, 17 July 2008</ref><ref>[http://www.merinews.com/catFull.jsp?articleID=136863 Naxal movement entering mobile warfare phase], Merinews, 3 July 2008</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.groundreport.com/Arts_and_Culture/Maoist-Hit-Back-Greyhound-Commandos-Killing-35 |title=Maoist Insurgents Hit Back Greyhound Commandos Killing 35 |publisher=GroundReport |date=2008-07-01 |accessdate=2009-07-13 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080705024422/http://www.groundreport.com/Arts_and_Culture/Maoist-Hit-Back-Greyhound-Commandos-Killing-35 |archivedate=2008-07-05 }}</ref>

The group was ambushed by Maoists while returning to [[Andhra Pradesh (1956–2014)|Andhra Pradesh]] through the [[Sileru River]] on board a motorboat belonging to the Odisha Irrigation Department, after conducting an unsuccessful combing operation in Odisha. The boat was attacked shortly after departing [[Janbai]], Odisha by an unknown number of Maoists.<ref>{{cite web |title=Greyhounds Ambushed |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/greyhounds-ambushed/237823 |website=Outlook |access-date=15 November 2021 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Mohanty" /> The assailants, located on the surrounding hills, attacked the boat while it was passing through a narrow passage of the [[Balimela Reservoir]] with light machine guns, self-loading rifles, grenades, and automatic weapons such as [[AK-47]]s and [[Type 56 assault rifle|AK-56s]]. The grenades thrown at the boat caused it to capsize and sink.<ref name = "Mohanty">{{cite web |title=Greyhound attack just the start, Orissa braces for worse |url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/greyhound-attack-just-the-start-orissa-braces-for-worse/333037/ |website=archive.indianexpress.com |access-date=15 November 2021}}</ref>

Thirty-eight people died in the attack, including 32 Greyhounds personnel and the boat operator, resulting in the highest death toll for the Greyhounds in a single attack. Twenty-seven people survived mostly by swimming to safety. Some Greyhounds personnel were captured by Maoists and killed in custody. Search parties later recovered the remains of Greyhounds personnel with hands bound behind their back.<ref>{{cite web|date=2 July 2008|title=36 commandos missing, may be held by Maoists|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/36-commandos-missing-may-be-held-by-maoists/story-orZ64pWoL4Qdn9v6Ww1SeM.html|access-date=15 November 2021|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Balimela incident anniversary observed |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Visakhapatnam/balimela-incident-anniversary-observed/article2146927.ece |website=The Hindu |access-date=15 November 2021 |language=en-IN |date=30 June 2011}}</ref> The [[Communist Party of India (Maoist)]] claimed responsibility for the attack.<ref name="Mohanty" /> Odisha Home Secretary T.K. Mishra stated that the Greyhounds had made a "tactical blunder" by traveling in one boat and should have undertaken their journey earlier in the morning.<ref>{{cite web |title=Greyhounds’ error led to attack: Orissa secretary |url=https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-greyhounds-error-led-to-attack-orissa-secretary-1175014 |website=DNA India |access-date=15 November 2021 |language=en}}</ref>

[[Patel Sudhakar Reddy]], leader of the central committee of the CPI (M), who police accused of being involved in the Balimela attack and several other major crimes, was killed during a combing operation by [[Andhra Pradesh Police]] on 24 May 2009.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Top Maoist leader shot in encounter|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2009/may/25/top-maoist-leader-shot-in-encounter-51926.html|access-date=2021-11-20|website=The New Indian Express}}</ref> Police had received specific intelligence regarding the location of Maoists in the Lavella forest area in Tadwai mandal of [[Warangal district]]. His colleague Venkaiah, a CPI (M) district committee member was also killed in the encounter.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Top Naxal Leader Killed in Encounter in Andhra|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/newswire/story/top-naxal-leader-killed-in-encounter-in-andhra/660343|access-date=2021-11-20|website=www.outlookindia.com/}}</ref> Muttannagari Jalandhar Reddy alias Krishna, who was also involved in the Balimela attack, surrendered to Andhra Pradesh Police in April 2021.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Srinivas|first=Rajulapudi|date=2021-04-20|title=Maoist carrying a reward of ₹20 lakh surrenders in Andhra Pradesh|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/maoist-carrying-a-reward-of-20-lakh-surrenders-in-andhra-pradesh/article34370842.ece|access-date=2021-11-19|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:2008 in India]]
[[Category:Communist Party of India (Maoist)]]
[[Category:Conflicts in 2008]]
[[Category:Naxalite–Maoist insurgency]]
[[Category:Crime in Odisha]]
[[Category:Malkangiri district]]

Balimela reservoir boat attack - Revision history

->Kahtar at 17:42, 21 November 2021