NIA to probe possible lapses behind Naxal strike

Anti-terror agency National Investigation Agency will begin its probe on Monday -- into the deadly Naxal attack on Congress leaders in Chhattisgarh -- to find out possible lapses on the part of the central forces or the state government.

Action will be taken if anyone is found guilty, Minister of State for Home RPN Singh told reporters on Monday.

"We have asked the NIA to investigate the Maoist attack. Security lapses could have taken place. Any lapse on the part of central forces or the state government, buck will have to be stopped somewhere. We have to take action," he said.

Asked whether the mastermind of Saturday's attack on Congress workers has been identified, Singh said it was too early to say that and a conclusion would be reached only after the probe is completed.

The Centre has already deployed 30 battalion (approximately 30,000 personnel) in Chhattisgarh to help the state government carry out anti-Naxal operations.

Earlier, Union Home Secretary R K Singh said an official order formally handing over the case to NIA to carry out the investigation would be issued soon.

"We will issue the order for the NIA probe. The NIA team will also go to Chhattisgarh today," he told reporters.

Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde had on Sunday said that the NIA will probe the Maoist attack on Congress leaders and the Centre has received a go-ahead from Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh for it.

Heavily-armed Maoists had on Saturday ambushed a convoy of Congress leaders in Bastar district, killing 27 people including Pradesh Congress Committee chief Patel, his son Dinesh, Congress leader Mahendra Karma and former Member of Legislative Assembly Uday Mudliyar and injuring 32 others, including former Union minister V C Shukla.