Coming out of the awe, struck by Saturday’s massive Maoist strike which killed more than two dozen Congress leaders, workers and security persons, the State Government finally took some strong steps to salvage its image by suspending Bastar Superintendent of Police Mayank Shrivastava, and also removed District Collector Anbalgan P and Inspector General of Police Bastar range Himanshu Gupta on Tuesday evening for the security lapses leading to the tragedy which put the State Government virtually in a very tight spot.
Ajay Yadav will be the new Superintendent of Police whereas Arundev Gautam will take the place of Himanshu Gupta as new IG. Ankit Anand has been posted as new Collector of Bastar and will replace Anbalgan P who has been made deputy secretary in Mantralaya. Himashu Gupta has been given the charge of IG of CID whereas Mayank Shrivastava has been attached to DGP office, Raipur.
Meanwhile, the State Government has also made some changes in VIP security arrangements according to which DIG of State Intelligence Bureau Dipanshu Kaabra and IG Raipur G P Singh will look after VIP security under the direct supervision of Director General of Police Ramniwas.
Notably, from the Saturday itself fingers were being raised at the inefficiency of the State Government as well as the district administration which squarely failed to smell the preparations of Maoists resulting in the biggest ever Maoist attack in the country on a political party cadres killing 24 and injuring over 30 people in one go.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi, party vice president Rahul Gandhi and hordes of Central leaders visited the state capital pointing fingers to the security lapses committed by the state administration. In the light of all round criticism the hard action was awaited for last two days which was finally announced late Tuesday evening after Chief Minister Raman Singh and his top bureaucrats had a talk with union home secretary RK Singh who visited the State capital to facilitate future action against the Maoists.
Justice Prashant Mishra to conduct judicial probe
Meanwhile the State Government on Tuesday appointed Justice Prashant Mishra as the the chairman of the judicial probe panel which will probe the lapses on the part of administration in providing security and other circumstances leading to the Maoist attack on the Congress convoy at Darbha valley in which over two dozen of Congress leaders, workers including CGPCC president Nand Kumar Patel, former MlAs Mahendra Karma, Udai Mudliyar, Patel’s son Dinesh Patel was killed in cold blood.
Justice Mishra Panel will have to submit the probe report within three months of its formation.