Police commandant suspended after Bastar massacre

Raipur, Mar 16 (UNI) Chhattisgarh government today suspended the Chhattisgarh Armed Force (CAF) 9th battalion commandant after Naxalites massacred 55 security personnel yesterday at the Ranobodli police camp in tribal Dantewada district in the pre-dawn hours.

State Home Minister Ram Vichar Netam told UNI that CAF 9th Battalion Commandant Mohammad Hussain has been placed under suspension after it was found that he was absent from headquarters without informing the higher authorities.

Soon after the incident, he said, the Bijapur Superintendent of Police tried to contact the Commandant to dispatch additional forces to Ranibodli but Mr Hussain was not present at the headquarters, resulting in delay in rushing forces to the spot.

Armed Naxalites had stormed the police camp at Ranibodli, killing 55 security personnel, including three platoon commanders and 13 constables of 9th battalion and special police officers.

It had also come to notice that the attack took place at about 0200 hours and those present at the camp had alerted the nearby police stations within 20 minutes but additional forces could reach the spot only around 0600 hours.

Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police (State Armed force) Girdhari Nayak has been entrusted the task of conducting and inquiry into the alleged lapse on the part of officials.

UNI