NEW DELHI (AP) — Maoist insurgents will not be allowed to spoil next month’s Indian elections with violent attacks, the home minister said Wednesday, a day after rebels killed 16 people in their deadliest raid in almost a year.

About 200 rebels had ambushed a group of 44 troops and police guarding construction workers in the south of central Chhattisgarh state on Tuesday, police inspector general Mukesh Gupta said. He initially said 20 troops died but revised it to 16 early Wednesday, 15 law enforcement officers and one civilian.