Salboni explosion a failure of local administration: Paswan

Kolkata, Nov 18 (UNI) Steel Minister Ram Vilas Paswan today held the West Midnapore district administration solely responsible for failing to sense the Maoist attack on his convoy at Salboni on November 2.

Talking to newspersons after signing an MoU between the National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) and West Bengal Mineral Development and Trading Corporation (WBMDTC) here, Mr Paswan said, '' It was the failure of the local administration to judge the law and order and take required steps. '' Mr Paswan said there was also a big communication gap among the VVIPs after the incident which had confused the entire episode.

'' Seconds after the ambush, the Chief Minister briefed me about high tension wires while the confirmation of landmine came from him later, '' he said.

Mr Paswan, his deputy Jitin Prasada, industrialist Sajjan Jindal and Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee escaped narrowly when Maoists exploded a landmine targetting their convoy returning here after inauguration of the country's largest steel project at Salboni on November two.

UNI ADG SJC SK KN1827