Chhattisgarh police for better anti-landmine vehicles

As police analyse what went wrong leading to the deadly Naxal attack claiming lives of 76 security men on April 6, one of their demands is better anti-landmine vehicles to safeguard the occupants.

"The anti-landmine vehicle can withstand explosion till a certain limit after which it can be damaged. It seems the Naxals have identified its capacity and are targeting them," a senior police told PTI.

Officials said in the past five years there have been at least six instances when the Maoists have damaged the anti-landmine vehicle in blasts. This includes the 2006 incident in Gangalur village of Bastar area when 24 jawans were killed.

Whenever the Naxals target the vehicle, it does not get destroyed completely but certain portions are damaged causing serious injuries to the jawans sitting inside it, they said. 

Following such incidents, State police now have written to the vehicle manufacturers to correct the flaws and make them more safe.

Meanwhile, a probe has been launched into the biggest ever Maoist attack in the state and every possibility that could have prevented the attack is being explored, senior police officials said.

"Despite the state Intelligence department providing information that a large number of armed Naxals have been spotted in Dantewada, the outlaws succeed in carrying out their plans," said the senior officer.

We are also probing as to whether the security personnel and jawans had followed the safety rules laid out for area domination, the officer said. 

It has been observed that the Naxals are targeting the security personnel while they return from patrol. Besides they choose early morning hours for such strikes, the officer added.