Click to play videoNew Delhi: Monday's Naxal massacre in Dantewada which killed over 40, has triggered many uncomfortable questions for the Government to answer.
Topping the list is the same old question: why was Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) not followed?
Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, Raman Singh was faced with such questions as he reached Sukma to pay the final tribute to the men who died and meet those who are fighting for their lives.
"Chhattisgarh has become the centre-point for Naxal activities. Therefore, there is a strong need to intensify action against them," said Singh
Intelligence Sources told CNN-IBN that Special Police Officers (SPOs) routinely travel in civilian vehicles in Chhattisgarh's Naxal-affected areas, apparently hoping that Maoists would not target such vehicles for fear of losing local support.
But this time the SPOs hopped onto a private bus carrying civilians after completing an operation.
The SPOs carried out search and area-domination operation inside the Naxal stronghold but there was no forward party to escort them out of the area.
Despite repeated intelligence reports, no combing operation was carried out to detect landmines in the area.
Police say that it's not possible to detect deep mines planted on metal roads.
They suspect that Maoists have forced contractors to plan such mines in many places on the national highways in and around Dantewada.
However, the SPOs who were killed formed the 'cutting edge' of operations against the Maoists. They are the local tribals who go inside, collect actionable intelligence and even carry out hits.
Inspector General (Intelligence), Raipur, DM Awasthi said, "The Naxals get to know about the police movements during operations."
Inside the hospital in Jagdalpur, as many fight for their lives, Monday's attack comes as yet another grim reminder of how Naxalites are targeting security forces as their staple victims, almost at will, every month.
Adding to the brazenness, a day after the massacre, Maoists started a 48-hour bandh in the same area, crippling life in Bastar and Dantewada districts of Chhattisgarh.
(For updates you can share with your friends, follow IBNLive on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Pinterest)
More on IBNLive Right Now
TOP NEWS
MOST SHARED
PHOTOGALLERY
