By IANS,
Kolkata : The West Bengal government Monday suspended three policemen, including an inspector, for negligence of duty, a day after a landmine blast on the convoy of the chief minister and two union ministers injured six policemen in West Midnapore district.
Those suspended were traffic inspector Aloke Chakraborty and two constables who were on duty at Bhadutala, the scene of Sunday’s blast suspected to have been triggered by Maoists, said Home Secretary Ashoke Mohan Chakraborty.
Six people were arrested for the incident, Inspector General of state police (law and order) Raj Kanojia said. Twelve others have been detained for interrogation as the police started a thorough probe into the explosion.
Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and union ministers Ram Vilas Paswan and Jitin Prasada had a narrow escape while returning from the foundation laying function of JSW Steel Bengal at Salboni.
A top police source said steps have also been taken against two police officers of Deputy Superintendent rank, but there was no official confirmation.
Six policemen were injured, three critically, in the explosion.
Meanwhile, ruling Left Front major Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) blamed the police and wondered how the Maoists could plant wire underground upto a distance of 2.5 km from the spot to detonate the mine from afar despite the elaborate security presence.
“I think the police should have taken proper precautions,” Biman Bose, CPI-M state secretary, told newspersons.