28 police officers killed in India

RAIPUR, India, July 12 (UPI) -- Suspected Maoists in India killed 28 security personnel in separate attacks Sunday in the central state of Chhattisgarh, authorities said.

The rebels ambushed a police patrol, killing 26 personnel including senior police officials V.K. Choubey, the Times of India reported. The attack occurred as the police patrol was proceeding to Madanpara town in Rajnandgaon district, where the militants had earlier killed two security men.

Additional reinforcements and communication equipment were rushed to the region, which has been the scene of much rebel violence in the recent months.

Police said the patrol was ambushed between Khoregaon and Karkoti, triggering an intense gun battle, the Press Trust of India reported.

The Times of India report said there have been 1,128 incidents of rebel violence in the past six months, resulting in the deaths of 455 people including 200 security personnel.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has described the rebels as one of the biggest internal security threats.