Congress alleges nexus between BJP, naxals in Chhattisgarh

Raipur, Feb 3: Alleging a nexus between some

leaders and

in

, the main opposition party

on Tuesday demanded a CBI probe into "urban network" run by rebels, which was unravelled recently.

Congress members raised this issue through an adjournment notice in Chhattisgarh Assembly, which was accepted.

Beginning the discussion after lunch hour, senior Congress MLA Satyanarayan Sharma said, "The urban channel of the naxals has been operating from capital Raipur for long time and intelligence wing of police department has failed to crack it."

Citing names of suspected naxal conduits, including two prominent businessmen of Kanker region arrested recently, Sharma alleged a former BJP MP and a former minister were associated with these conduits and state government is trying to shield them.

Sharma was joined by Amit Jogi, Brihaspati Singh, Manoj Mandavi, Kawashi Lakhma and Mohan Markam who came down heavily on the state government over its "failure" to check the naxal movement in the state.

"The naxal-helps are seen moving with representatives of people, which is a serious concern to administration. Names of those who are responsible to check this menace are surfacing for helping them", the Leader of Opposition TS Singhdeo said.

Singhdeo also attacked the "failure" of intelligence which he said resulted into incidents like Jiram Valley attack in which Maoist insurgents killed several Congress leaders including the then state unit president last year.

He alleged that politics had been deep-rooted into police administration too and raised demand for a CBI probe, saying there is a naxal nexus with the BJP leaders in Chhattisgarh.

State Home Minister Ramsewak Paikra refused to make any declaration in support of the demands made by Congress legislators but claimed that effective policing has in fact resulted into major setback for naxal movement in the state.

"On the contrary, strong intelligence network has checked increase of naxal activities in the region", the minister said.

PTI