Mr. Karma had long been a target of Maoist anger because of his association with Salwa Judum, a local militia he founded to combat the guerrillas but that was accused of atrocities against the local tribal population. Such tribal groups are among the most marginalized citizens in Indian society and constitute the backbone of the Maoist insurgency that has kindled across the eastern middle of the country.

The attack was one of the most audacious recent strikes by guerrillas. The number of attacks and the deaths associated with them surged in 2009 and 2010 but had waned in the past two years, with some hoping that the central government’s growing welfare outreach — including food and jobs programs — had cut support for the insurgents.

Indeed, India’s governing coalition touted last week the decline in Maoist attacks and deaths as one of its signature achievements.

The Maoists confiscated the weapons of the dead police officers and then fled, Mr. Gupta said. The wounded were taken to area hospitals. Troops have begun to comb the area for the guerrillas, Mr. Gupta said.

The prime minister called the Chhattisgarh chief minister Saturday night to ask whether he needed additional forces. As the two men are members of opposing parties, the state and national response to the attack is a delicate political dance. State leaders have gained considerable power in recent years at the expense of the central government. But security is one of the few areas in which the central government has become less deferential, promising to send in the army at the first sign of serious unrest or rioting.