Terming the Maoists attack on a police camp in West Bengal as outrageous, Home Minister P Chidambaram on Tuesday accepted there were indications of "failure" in some aspects which only a detailed review would reveal.

"While there are indications of failure in some aspects, only a thorough review will reveal how the police camp with adequate strength was overrun, when there was day light, by the CPI (Maoist)," he said in a statement here.

The home minister, who spoke to West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, said the attack was "another outrageous attempt by the banned organisation to overawe the established authority in the State."

"I condemn the attack. There has been a massive loss of lives. Besides, more than 40 weapons are reported to have been looted", the statement said.

At least 50 para-military personnel from the Eastern Frontier Rifles were "resting" in the Silda camp in West Midnapore, 15-km away from Lalgarh, when it was attacked by the Maoists. Twenty one para-military personnel were either burnt alive or gunned down. Many fled from the scene and are missing. Police sources claim at least 80 Maoists guerrillas had attacked the police camp.