Mahendra Karma had only 6 guards with him when Naxals attacked
New Delhi, May 30: Mahendra Karma, former Chhattisgarh Home Minister, slain by Naxals along with 26 others, had Z-plus security with 16 armed guards but was accompanied by only six guards when he was attacked.
Sources said when the Naxals attacked the convoy of Congress leaders on May 25, Karma, PCC chief Nand Kumar Patel and others did not have adequate security, exposing themselves badly before Maoists attack.
Karma,
who
was
on
the
hit
list
of
Maoists
for
long,
was
given
Z-plus
security
by
Chhattisgarh
government.
But
on
Saturday,
when
the
Congress
leaders
were
attacked,
the
tribal
politician
was
accompanied
by
only
six
guards
who
were
carrying
only
light
weapons,
sources
said.
Preliminary reports suggested the extremists could target the Congress leaders as security was completely lax for the Congress rally when it had entered Jagdalpur district unlike Sukma district where adequate security was provided to the political programme.
Sources said suspended Bastar SP Mayak Shrivastav had failed to give clear instructions for security of the 'Congress Yatra' when it was passing through the troubled district resulting in the attack.
There was no specific information that the Congress leaders would be targeted by Maoists and everyone in the security establishment was surprised over Naxals attacking a political rally, said the sources.
They said both Central and Chhattisgarh governments have resolved to hit back at the Naxals in a big way in the coming days and instructed security agencies that adequate protection should be given to all political parties, their programmes and the leaders.
PTI