Mumbai attacks: probe panel announced

The Maharashtra government named the two-member committee, headed by the former Arunachal Pradesh governor RD Pradhan to probe the Mumbai terror attacks.

The Maharashtra government on Tuesday named the two-member committee, headed by the former Arunachal Pradesh governor RD Pradhan to probe the Mumbai terror attacks.

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Announcing this in the state Assembly, the chief minister Ashok Chavan said that the proposed committee would examine all aspects of the terrorist attacks in Mumbai, including any possible lapses. The committee that will be asked to submit its findings within a period of two months, will also be required to suggest measures for preventing recurrence of any such attack.

The other member of the committee would be V Balachandran, a retired IPS officer. The chief minister said that terms of reference of the committee would include any lapses on the part of police and the state administration in effectively tackling the terror attack.

Chavan informed that Pradhan would be given a cabinet rank status while Balachandran would be given a status of state minister.

Pradhan, a retired IAS officer was the union home secretary in the mid-80's during the tenure of the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. He also worked as a diplomat. Both, Pradhan and Balachandran would be given authorities to officially summon any state government officials or other concerned persons in respect of committee's works.

Meanwhile, the Home minister Jayant Patil announced in the state Council that the government would provide the insurance benefit amount of Rs 10-lakh to the Hemant Karkare family.

The family of the slain ATS chief could not get his insurance amount of Rs 10-lakh as the state government had failed to deposit the agency's group insurance premium. Apart of this R 10-lakh, the Karare family would also get the ex-gratia payment of Rs 25-lakh, Patil further informed.