Steep decline in number of Naxal attacks in India, says Rajnath Singh

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday said that there has been a steep decline in the number of Naxal attacks in the country.

"There has been a steep decline in such incidents," Singh told reporters when asked about Saturday's attack in insurgency-hit Bastar district of Chhattisgarh in which an STF officer was killed and a jawan injured.

The attack occurred at 2 am when a contingent of Special Task Force (STF) was out for an operational task on NH30 in Darbha region of Bastar district.

The location of the ambush is close to Jeeram Ghati area of Bastar where the top Congress leadership of the state was wiped out by Maoists in May, 2013, killing 31 people.

Assistant Platoon Commandant (APC), STF Krishna Pal Singh was killed while a constable Santosh Yadav sustained minor injuries in the incident. Asked about Bihar elections, Singh exuded confidence about BJP performing well and forming government in the state.