Maken visit to Kolebira cancelled due to security reasons

The visit of Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Maken to the naxal-affected Kolebira assembly constituency in Jharkhand on Sunday was cancelled due to "security reasons".

The visit of Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Maken to the naxal-affected Kolebira assembly constituency in Jharkhand on Sunday was cancelled due to "security reasons".

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Senior Congress leader Maken, who is on a day's visit to the state for campaigning ahead of the fourth phase of state assembly polls on December 12, was scheduled to attend a public rally at Kolebira (Simdega district), a seat from which Enos Ekka-- close aide of arrested former Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda-- is also in the fray.

The local administration, however, did not give him permission to hold a public meeting citing security reasons.Maken was to campaign for Congress candidate Benjamin Lakra from the seat.

Official sources said as per the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), the minister of state for Home has to give atleast three-day prior notice so that the local police can sanitise the route to be taken by the minister and the venue in the naxal-infested areas.

The minister was scheduled to visit four assembly seats in the state, incidentally all of which fall in the naxal hotbed.