Delay in sending choppers to Chhattisgarh encounter site cost lives: Congress MP

He further charged the Home and Defence ministries with the lack of coordination

A Congress member in Lok Sabha today asked the government to explain the reported delay in rushing IAF helicopters to the site of last week's CRPF-Maoist encounter in Chhattisgarh that claimed the lives of 14 security personnel, saying the time-lag was the main reason for the fatalities.

"While the encounter occurred around 11.30 hours, the IAF sent helicopters to evacuate the injured only around 16.30 hours. Many of the deaths occurred due to this delay as the injured personnel could not get timely medical attention," K Venugopal said during Zero Hour.

Claiming that the IAF had said it sent the choppers late as the area was not sanitised, he charged the government, specifically the ministries of Home and Defence, with 'lack of coordination'.

He also referred to the finding of blood-stained uniforms and shoes of CRPF jawans killed by the Maoists in a dustbin near a Raipur mortuary and reports of dogs feeding on flesh there and condemned 'this inhuman behaviour'.

Venugopal demanded that Home Minister Rajnath Singh should make a statement in the House on the 'lack of coordination' and the Maoist attack in Sukma region of Chhattisgarh.

Several Congress members, including Venugopal, again raised the issue when the Zero Hour was about to end but were not allowed by Speaker Sumitra Mahajan who adjourned the House for lunch.

Dushyant Chautala (INLD) advocated urgent policy formation to deal with the Maoist and terrorist menace to maintain tranquility on the borders and peace within.

He wanted better equipment to be provided to the armed forces, police and paramilitary personnel.

Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' (BJP) expressed concern over a bomb blast in Uttarakhand during a function there recently.

He expressed apprehension that Maoists or terrorists have become active in the state and said government should take stern steps to check them, especially in view of the fact that the religious ceremony of Mahakumbh would be organised there in 2016.