Indian govt sets up probe in the worst-ever Maoist strike

New Delhi, Apr 8 (PTI) Acknowledging that "something went
wrong" in the worst-ever Maoist attack in eastern Indian state
Chhattisgarh, Government Thursday decided to set up an inquiry
into the incident that claimed lives of 76 security personnel.
"We have taken a decision to institute an inquiry into
what went wrong," Home Minister P Chidambaram told reporters
on a volley of questions on Tuesday's attack in the jungles of
Dantewada district in Chattisgarh.
Noting that there would be a time-frame for the inquiry,
he said, "I maintain what I said yesterday (Wednesday) that
something went wrong. We have to find that out."
Chidambaram was briefing reporters after a meeting of the
Cabinet Committee on Security, but refused to divulge what was
discussed there.
Asked whether the Maoist attack figured in the meeting of
the Union Cabinet held earlier in the day, he merely said
"no".
Chidambaram described as incorrect reports about pressure
bombs being used in the attack and also that the state police
did not know about the Central Reserve Police Force operation
for area domination.
He said 76 security personnel, including a driver of a
mine-protected vehicle and a head constable of the state
police, were killed in the landmine blast.
Asked about the source of weapons used by the ultras,
Chidambaram said the extremists had taken away all arms of the
CRPF personnel after they were killed in the attack.
"They buy arms from across the border. There are arms
bazars across the border. They bring them clandestinely into
the country," he said, citing India's open and porous borders
with Nepal, Myanmar and Bangladesh.
"Where do the Northeast insurgents get their arms from?
Arms are looted from security forces, procured from across the
border, country-made weapons are acquired".
To questions on the sources of funds, he said they loot
banks and extort money from mining companies in the areas
where they operate.
Asked about the use of airpower, Chidambaram refused to
elaborate on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's comments that
Government had not taken any decision to use airpower to quell
extremist violence.
"My view is that if necessary, we can revisit it. We have
to reflect on it," he said, adding "if there is a policy
revision, you will be informed".
Asked whether the shortage of mine-protected vehicles
(MPVs) would affect the anti-naxal operations, the Minister
said "that is a decision the operational commanders have to
take. In some places, they may review (the operations), in
others they may go ahead and intensify."
"We will provide paramilitary forces to the state
governments to assist them to carry out anti-naxal operations,
regain control so that they can restore the developmental
process.
"So, therefore, whether the operations will continue or
intensify, these decisions have to be taken by the state
government and the operational commanders," he said.
Chidambaram said a large number of MPVs have been ordered
by the paramilitary forces, including 280 by the CRPF. This
was due to the "extremely limited capacity" of the Indian
public and private sectors to produce them.
He said an MPV was blown up in the Tuesday's landmine
explosion by the naxals as it was "designed to take a blast of
15-20 kgs. But if you have a larger charge, then it will be
damaged." The driver of this MPV was killed. PTI ARC
KAB