BJP seeks CBI probe into Rampur attack

New Delhi, Jan 4 (UNI) The BJP today demanded a CBI investigation in the terrorist attack on a CRPF camp at Rampur in Uttar Pradesh on January 1 after the priliminary investigations pointed fingers at the possibility of collusion by an insider that claimed eight lives.

BJP spokesman Ravishankar Prasad said according to the report, a car having the ruling BSP flag had arrived at the CRPF camp before the launch of the attack, which was a matter of concern.

What was more disturbing was that the entire system of Governance in Uttar Pradesh, right from the Mulayam Singh government to the present Mayawati regime, and the Centre were 'soft on terror'. Since the CRPF had no investigative power, it was necessary to have a CBI investigation to get to the root of the first major terrorist attack on the CRPF outside Jammu and Kashmir.

The arrest of a surrendered militant from Jammu and Kashmir after the attack also justified the CBI investigation as the matter was beyond the jurisdiction of the Uttar Pradesh police.

Mr Prasad said it was bizzare that the UP Government was more worried about the security of Chief Minister Mayawati rather than taking corrective actions to step up security for the common man in the state.

The BJP had no dispute with the fact that the Chief Minister of the biggest state of the country deserved all the necessary security, but she alone cannot be the focus, he said, adding it should be for the people of the entire state.

All the efforts of the Uttar Pradesh administration appeared to be on securing SPG cover for the Chief Minister or obtaining direct access to the airport tarmacs across the country, he lamented.

Referring to the 'confusion' prevailing in the Home Ministry regarding the previously issued warning by the Intelligence agencies about an attack on Rampur in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir or Rampur in Uttar Pradesh, Mr Prasad said it was common knowledge that the terrorists were targetting Uttar Pradesh as was known by the series of attacks launched in the state, be it the explosives attack on Shramjeevi Express at Joanpur, blasts at Ayodhya, Varanasi or the court complexes in Faizabad, Lucknow and Varanasi.

UNI MCN SHB RS1825