New Delhi, Feb 19 (IANS) The Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) Friday strongly condemned the killing of 24 Eastern Frontier Rifle troopers by Maoists in West Bengal and the rebels' subsequent attack on villagers in Bihar's Jammui district for allegedly harbouring police informers.

"Such wanton violence and bloodshed is reprehensible and unacceptable and has no place in our democracy. The CHRI urges the Maoists to abjure violence and instead work out solutions to their grievances with the government
through negotiations," the organisation said in a statement.

The human rights organisation also urged the police not to indulge in retaliatory or random violence that can endanger ordinary people of the area.

"The CHRI has appealed to both Maoists and the state governments to replace the present military engagement with a political one and arrive at an early resolution of the conflict.

"We believe that the path of violence will keep the poor always poor and only serve to slow down the process of growth and development of the poorest," it said.

Maoists carried out a daring attack on a security forces' camp at Shilda in West Bengal Monday, killing 24 troopers of Eastern Frontier Rifles (EFR) and a civilian.

The guerrillas Wednesday stormed a village in Jamui district and killed 11 people.