Gadchiroli Naxal attack inquiry expected to be completed in 2

An inquiry into the IED blast by Naxals in Jambhurkheda village in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli district on May 1 which killed 15 Quick Response Team personnel and a driver is expected to be completed in the next two days, a senior police official said Sunday.

Officials also said Kurkheda Sub Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Shailesh Kale has been sent on leave following the incident.

Jambhurkheda is part of the district's Kurkheda tehsil.

Gadchiroli Superintendent of Police Shailesh Balkawde Sunday said several teams have been formed to investigate the Naxal attack.

He added that a case has been registered in Purada police station in connection with the attack against 40 Naxals, including top Maoist operatives Milind Teltumbde and Bhaskar Hichkani among others.

Teltumbde is also wanted in the case registered in connection with the violence that took place in Bhima Koregaon near Pune on January 1 last year following the Elgar Parishad a day earlier on December 31, 2017.

A senior official said the investigation into the incident will cover aspects like whether the torching of vehicles by the ultras a day earlier was a bait for the IED blast and also whether standard operating procedures were followed by security forces.