Errabore carnage probe moving at snail's pace

Raipur, Aug 16 (UNI) The Chhattisgarh government's inquiry into the Naxal assault on Errabore relief camp in south Bastar, where 34 tribals were massacred, is moving at a snail's pace with a high-level committee yet to submit a report on circumstances leading to the carnage.

The government set up a two-member committee, comprising Principal Secretary Vivek Dhand and Addl DGP A K Shrivastav to probe the alleged lapses on part of security personnel during the Maoist attack on the intervening night of July 16 and 17.

The inquiry followed reports that the security personnel, including CRPF, did not come to the rescue of tribals when the rebels torched houses and killed 34 persons. The committee was asked to submit a report within a week, official sources said.

Chief Minister Raman Singh told UNI that both officers had already visited Errabore. ''The report should have been submitted by now,'' he added.

CLP deputy leader Bhupesh Baghel said it appeared that the government was not serious over the probe which, he felt, was ordered soon after the incident as the assembly's monsoon session was scheduled for the last week of July.

''We knew the fate of such an inquiry,'' he said adding that was the reason the opposition demanded a judicial probe.

More than 50,000 persons sheltered in government relief camps as they deserted villages after ultras unleashed violence protesting against 'Salwa Judum' -- an anti-naxal campaign launched by locals in June last year.

Later, extremists began targeting camps, forcing authorities to provide security cover to all 17 camps in south Bastar.

UNI AS-JJ AC PA HT1550