Govt panel starts probe into Dantewada massacre

Amid firing from the Naxalite guerrillas, a one-member committee constituted by the Union government today started probe into the country's biggest Naxal attack on security personnel.

The attack, which took place on April 6 in the forests of Tadmetla near Chintalnaar in Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh, had killed 76 security personnel. Of the victims, 75 belonged to the 62nd battalion of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and one was a constable of the state police.

Home Minister P Chidambaram had constituted a one-member committee of former Director General (DG) of Border Security Force (BSF) and Indian Police Service (IPS) official of 1965 batch, E N Rammohan, to probe the massacre.

Rammohan landed at Chintalnaar CRPF camp in BSP helicopter today to start the probe and establish links and loopholes that led to the deadly attack. Chhattisgarh Police DG Vishwa Ranjan, Special CRPF DG Vijay Raman and other senior officials accompanyied him. Sources said Naxalites, who were hiding in the area, opened fire at Rammohan's convoy, when it was coming from Tadmetla after meeting CRPF jawans in the Chintalnaar base camp.

The rebels fired from a distance of 3 km and fled after security personnel returned fire, Dantewada Superintendent of Police Amresh Kumar Mishra said. The Naxalites were reportedly in CRPF uniform. No one was injured in the incident.

Sources said the security personnel escorting the officials took them under cover soon after firing started. As the jawans retaliated, the rebels fled the spot and slipped into the forests.

Undeterred by the firing, Rammohan visited the spot and returned to Jagdalpur - the divisional headquarters of Bastar - in the evening. Sources said the committee was expected to submit its report by April 26.