violent clashes between maoist rebels and state security forces and paramilitary groups increased following the breakdown of peace talks between the pwg and the state government of andhra pradesh. rebels continued to employ a wide range of low-intensity guerrilla tactics against government institutions, officials, security forces and paramilitary groups. for the first time in recent years, maoist rebels launched two large scale attacks against urban government targets. fighting was reported in 12 states covering most of south, central and north india with the exception of india’s northeast and northwest. more than 700 people were reported killed this year in violent clashes. over one-third of those killed were civilians.