"We would just feel hurt and not know how to resolve it."

Ireland's justice minister said the incident "is something we never want or expect to happen in our communities"."Gun violence is very rare in Ireland, and I am determined that will remain the case," said Jim O'Callaghan.

Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Michéal Martin said he is "deeply shocked and saddened at the shooting incident in Carlow this evening".In a post on X, he said: "My thoughts are with the families affected and the local community in Carlow after what was a very serious and traumatic incident."I urge anyone who has information to speak to the gardaí."

The tánaiste (Ireland's deputy prime minister) and Minister for Defence Simon Harris said he joined "people across our country" in thinking about the young child who has been injured and her family."I am also thinking of all those who witnessed this situation and the awful shock and upset it must have caused them," he added.

"I know their families and communities will rally to support them."

People who have been on an NHS waiting list for more than two years will now be able to pay for procedures in the Republic of Ireland and claim money back."We, along with other civil rights groups, demanded a two-step process - an immediate ceasefire followed by peace talks," said Ranjit Sur, general secretary of the Kolkata-based group Association for Protection of Democratic Rights.

Maoist-affected states remain resilient strongholds in part because they are rich in minerals - making them sites of intense resource battles. Mr Venugopal believes this is key to the CPI (Maoist's) enduring presence.Chhattisgarh, for instance, is India's sole producer of tin concentrates and moulding sand, and a leading source of coal, dolomite, bauxite and high-grade iron ore, according to the

It accounts for 36% of the country's tin, 20% iron ore, 18% coal, 11% dolomite and 4% of diamond and marble reserves. Yet, despite strong interest, mining companies - both global and national - have long struggled to access these resources."Multinational companies couldn't enter because the Maoist movement, built on the slogan 'Jal, Jangal, Jameen (Water, Forest, Land),' asserted that forests belong to tribespeople - not corporations," Mr Venugopal said.