New Delhi, Rajab 17, 1434, May 27, 2013, SPA - Thousands of troops have fanned out across central India in a massive manhunt two days after hundreds of Maoist rebels attacked a convoy of ruling (Congress) party members and leaders, killing 24 people. Ram Niwas, a top police official in Chhattisgarh state, would not give details about Monday's search operations but says government troops are working in the "inhospitable terrain" to hunt down those responsible for the attack, according to a report of the Associated Press. The rebels are thought to now operate in or control vast areas in 20 of India's 28 states. --SPA 11:34 LOCAL TIME 08:34 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/1114396