Jharkhand Naxal blasts: cops ignored basic guidelines

For one,ignoring the directive to walk,they team used a SUV,which ran over a landmine planted on a culvert. They also returned from the search operation by the same route,something all patrol parties are asked to avoid. Moreover,the anti-landmine vehicle accompanying the operation was behind the SUV and not ahead of it as required. No attempt was made to check if the area was free of landmines. Despite SI Yadavs instruction to move on foot,his team members chose to board the SUV, said Jha.

The blast in Bokaro district the very next day,which blew up an anti-landmine vehicle at Sarubeda killing eight Special Auxiliary Force SAF personnel,was no different. All deaths were caused by brain haemorrage according to the postmortem reports. While,as per SAF rules,all personnel on anti-landmine vehicles have to wear belts and helmets,no one was wearing one at the time of the blast. Under the impact of the blast,the vehicle went up in the air and rolled over. In the process,the SAF personnel received head injuries, said driver Jubrail Ansari,who survived the blast.

DGP V D Ram,who reviewed security measures in the aftermath of these blasts,admitted the lapses on part of the police teams. We have now decided to hold workshops and training camps to create a disciplined anti-Naxal force, he told The Indian Express.

Meanwhile,following the two attacks,all anti-Naxalite long range patrolling has come to a halt. The police is now trying to improve coordination between the IG,DIG and SP before restarting patrolling in the Naxalite infested areas. We will have to ensure that the SP supervises such operations minutely, the DGP said.