Kolkata, Feb 18 (Inditop.com) The West Bengal government Thursday set up an expert committee to look into the Maoist attack in West Midnapore’s Shilda that killed 25 people, as Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee admitted a lack of alertness on the part of the security personnel posted at the camp raided by the ultras.
He also said the inter-state operations against the radicals will start shortly.
“There was lack of alertness when the attack occurred. And we should learn from our mistakes.
“This much I can say till I get the full report from the enquiry committee. I have instructed that all police stations and police camps should be kept on high alert,” Bhattacharjee told mediaprsons here.
Twenty five people, including 24 security personnel, were killed and several others injured in the Maoist attack on the camp Monday.
“We have decided to form a committee to probe into the Maoist attack. It will look into various aspects like how the entire incident happened, how many Maoists participated in the operation, what was the level of alertness on the part of the security personnel etc,” Bhattacharjee said, three days after the most brazen attack by the ultras in the state so far.
He said the enquiry would also throw light on the nature of the attack and the modus operandi of the Leftwing ultras.
“According to initial reports we have come to know that the operation was organised by different Maoist squads. Some people from outside the state also participated in the attack. We are investigating every possible aspect of the case,” Bhattacharjee said, declining to divulge any further details about the enquiry committee and post-attack intelligence inputs.
Terming the attack as “extremely heinous”, the chief minister said the state government had already identified an alternative location in a nearby forest area to relocate the ravaged Shilda police camp as soon as possible.
Bhattacharjee said the enquiry committee would comprise senior officials from the state home department and top rank police officers.
“We have alerted all the police stations and joint forces camps in the Maoist-affected region. Now we are on the offensive and we are hopeful of getting over this problem,” he said.
Bhattacharjee, however, denied reports that the central government had sent its two-member team without informing the state government and said: “The team informed us earlier about its visit to the ravaged Shilda Camp and we have no problem or reservations regarding the team’s visit”.
