Up to Andhra to order probe in Azad's death: Chidambaram

Home Minister P Chidambaram on Wednesday said he was ready to provide all resources for an inquiry into the July 2 killing of Maoist spokesperson Cherukuri Rajkumar alias Azad in Andhra Pradesh, but clarified that it was up to the state government to do so.

Home Minister P Chidambaram on Wednesday said he was ready to provide all resources for an inquiry into the July 2 killing of Maoist spokesperson Cherukuri Rajkumar alias Azad in Andhra Pradesh, but clarified that it was up to the state government to do so.

HT Image

"I will give all the resources at my command," Chidambaram told the Lok Sabha while responding to the allegation that Azad was killed in a staged shootout.

Describing Azad as an accused in several murder cases in Andhra Pradesh, Chidambaram said it was for the state government to order an inquiry as the incident occurred in the state.

In a speech in the Maoist stronghold of Lalgarh Monday, Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee asked for a probe into the "murder" of Azad. This provoked the demand for an explanation from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on his government's position on tackling Maoists.