Deadly ambush raises fears of rebel resurgence in India

Women grieve as they await the arrival of the body of Indian paramilitary soldier Sanjay Kumar at his home in Palampur, about 40 kilometers (25 miles) south of Dharmsala, India, Tuesday, April 25, 2017. Kumar was among 25 Indian paramilitary soldiers who were killed by Maoist rebels in central India on Monday in one of the worst attacks on the country's security forces in recent years. (AP Photo/Ashwini Bhatia) (The Associated Press)

Indians shout slogans condemning Monday's Maoist attack in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district, as they light candles to pay tribute to the killed soldiers in Ahmadabad, India, Tuesday, April 25, 2017. Maoist rebels killed at least 25 Indian paramilitary soldiers and injured six others in their stronghold in central India on Monday in one of the worst attacks on the country's security forces in recent years. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki) (The Associated Press)

Women wailed as Indian soldiers carried a flag-draped coffin holding the body of one of their colleagues killed this week in a deadly ambush by autonomy-seeking Maoist rebels.

The attack, which killed 25 soldiers, has raised fears that the five-decade insurgency is seeing a revival. This year is already becoming one of the bloodiest, with 72 soldiers killed in the rebel heartland of Chhattisgarh. By comparison, 36 were killed during all of last year.

The troops killed Monday had been having lunch along a road when they were ambushed by about 300 armed rebels.

As family members buried the dead Tuesday night, the government vowed to retaliate.