Chhattisgarh CM condemns Sukma incident, orders probe

Condemning the Sukma incident, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh on Thursday said a probe has been ordered to find out how the uniforms of the CRPF martyrs, who died in a Maoist ambush in Sukma, ended up in trash cans outside a hospital where their bodies were autopsied.

"The Sukma incident is important and sad. Be it CRPF, police, health or administration, somewhere or the other they are connected over this issue because martyrs' clothes are given to their kin, but because they weren't present there at that time, it happened, the authorities should have coordinated. It's a sad and shameful incident that is why I have ordered probe to find out that where was the coordination lacking among these departments and the reason behind this incident," said Singh.

"We are talking to everyone since yesterday. We have talked to Home Minister Rajnath Singh also. The government will assist in whichever way possible," he added.

Meanwhile, Additional Director General of Police (anti-Naxal operations) RK Vij added that ministerial level inquiry has been ordered so that it can be concluded that who is at fault.

"Probe has been ordered to find out how these items reached there and under what circumstances. Three items were found, two pants and one t-shirt. Either the things are given to police or sent for probe. There are few traditions of forces. We do not want to disrespect anyone. Ministerial probe has been ordered and further could be said after words. The items don't hold much evidential value but important for family," said Vij.

An attack by Maoist forces on Monday left 13 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel of paramilitary unit dead, including two officers in the Sukma district of Chhattisgarh.

According to reports, the Maoist forces were also understood to have used local villagers as a human shield against retaliatory fire.

Search operations have been intensified to find out the Maoists involved in the attack.