By IANS,
New Delhi : The Chhattisgarh police did not fully back paramilitary troopers and thus failed to prevent the April 6 attack in which 76 security personnel were killed by Maoist guerrillas, a government-appointed panel probing the Dantewada massacre has found, well informed sources said Monday.
The probe by the E.N. Rammohan Committee has recommended a blueprint that includes better coordination and increased intelligence gathering to prevent further attacks by Leftist rebels in mineral-rich central India.
The sources said the probe report highlights the Chhattisgarh Police’s lack of cohesiveness and their alleged failure to support the central paramilitary forces in anti-Maoist operations in the state.
According to the sources, top police officials in Dantewada may be summoned by the central home ministry to Delhi for the “lapses”.
“It has been found that the police support to the (Central Reserve Police Force) CRPF personnel (who were targeted in the April 6 ambush) was less than desired,” an official said, speaking strictly on the condition of anonymity.
The report, submitted to the home ministry Saturday, has also suggested a re-look at “tactical” security operations against Maoist rebels.
After analysing the ground situation in the Maoist stronghold of Dantewada and nearby places in Bastar region, the panel has suggested a forward plan to ensure better coordination between the central forces and local police, the sources said.
It also emphasised better coordination between the civilian populace and the security forces camped in the area. The commission is believed to have suggested increased intelligence gathering by forces before any anti-rebel operation.
The report has also criticised CRPF officials on duty in Dantewada April 6 for lack of planning and strategic moves.
“There is evidence in the report suggesting that the CRPF team (of 62 Battalion that came under attack) diverted from the earmarked patrol task within a specific grid and moved in and around the area on its own where they were attacked by the Naxals,” the official said.
The extremists had sufficient time to plan an offensive to attack the forces, who returned on the same path, the report is believed to have pointed out.
Official sources told IANS that the government was likely to table the contents of the Rammohan commission report in the ongoing parliament session. Home Minister P. Chidambaram had told the Rajya Sabha April 19 that he had asked the committee to “fix the responsibility” for the April 6 incidents.
Rammohan, a former Border Security Force (BSF) head and a veteran of anti-militancy operations in Kashmir and the northeast, told IANS that the report was “prepared and submitted” as per the deadline which ended Saturday.
“I am sorry, I am not authorised to speak on the findings. They are classified,” Rammohan said, refusing to divulge details of the report.
“I would not like to discuss the contents before it is accepted by the government. I am fully satisfied to have done a thorough professional job.”
The probe committee head during the investigation met civil, police and paramilitary officials, villagers and the injured troopers. He also met Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh last week to discuss the anti-Maoist operations.
He has analysed details of mobile telephone calls made by the CRPF personnel during the attack.
Rammohan was appointed as a one-man panel to probe the Dantewada massacre two days after the attack.
The panel’s terms of reference included determining the sequence of events leading to the massacre and analysing and establishing the command structure of the security personnel there.