MP Maoists involved in Chhattisgarh attack?

Naxalites from Madhya Pradesh, especially Balaghat, may have taken part in the attack on the Congress leaders in Chhattisgarh that left nearly 28 people dead.

The state security establishment suspects that the ultra-leftists from the state had gone to Chhattisgarh. The reason is intelligence input from Balaghat in the course of last week. While earlier there were regular inputs about Naxal movements from Balaghat, there were no such reports lately.

Hundreds of Naxalites had participated in the daredevil strike in which senior Congress leaders Mahendra Karma and Nand Kumar Patel were killed. The coordinated attack makes it clear that Naxalites from different 'dalams' and from adjoining states like Maharashtra and MP may have taken part in the operation.

Director general of police (DGP) Nandan Dubey on Tuesday said there was no Naxal movement being reported from Balaghat in the last few days. The possibility that Maoist cadres from here joined the Naxals in Chhattisgarh, for the attack cannot be completely ruled out, he added.

Police sources said for at least three days prior to the attack, there was no Naxal activity or movement of Maoist cadre reported from Balaghat. This was strange and now it is fuelling suspicion that for an attack of such magnitude, the Chhattisgarh Maoists may have called 'dalams' from MP and Maharashtra for support.

In the wake of the Chhattisgarh incident, the MP government has also been forced to take the issue of Naxalim in the state seriously. The chief secretary and the DGP are going to visit the Naxal-infested districts of the state soon.

Both will visit Balaghat and Singrauli to take stock of the situation on the ground. The joint visit is scheduled on May 31. Singrauli has seen a rise in Naxalites' activity in recent years.

More security for politicians

The Madhya Pradesh police will provide security to politicians in Naxal-affected regions of the state. Additional policemen would be deployed during political rallies as well as during the tours of leaders from outside.

The decision has been taken after the incident in Chhattisgarh. Besides, the police have taken a decision to provide personal security to politicians who ask for it, in Naxal-affected districts. Over half-a-dozen districts in the state are considered Maoist affected.