A "high alert" has been sounded across Chhattisgarh, a day after Naxal attacks left 30 police personnel dead, with a rattled state government vowing to revise its strategy to deal with the Left-wing extremists.
"All police stations have been put on high alert, especially those near the state's border," Deputy Inspector General of Police (Naxal) Pawan Dev said.
Thirty police personnel including a Superintendent of Police were killed in ambushes and landmine attacks by Maoists in three separate incidents in Rajnandgaon, 90 km from Raipur.
Denying that the incidents reflected intelligence failure, the DIG said the security forces were aware of naxal activities in the area and STF had been deployed.
"But despite the steps, the attacks could not be averted," he said. The latest incidents of Maoist violence which has already claimed 148 lives in Chattisgarh this year occurred at Madanwada, Khoregaon area and Sitagaon.
Promising more "firm" action by police on the ground to check such incidents, Chief Minister Raman Singh said "we need to revise our strategy in fighting with Maoists".
But the Opposition Congress demanded imposition of President's rule in the state, saying the BJP government had failed to check the spurt in naxal violence.
{{/usCountry}}But the Opposition Congress demanded imposition of President's rule in the state, saying the BJP government had failed to check the spurt in naxal violence.
{{/usCountry}}"If a top cop like Superintendent of Police is being killed in Naxal attacks, how can the government assure safety of the common man," former Chief Minister Ajit Jogi said.
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) called for prompt legal action against the "killers" and "immediate and suitable" measures for providing adequate compensation to families of the slain police personnel.