Preliminary probe into yesterday's Naxal ambush in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district has indicated involvement of its Darbha unit leader Surendra, sources in Chhattisgarh Police said tonight.
In a brazen daytime attack, 16 people including 11 CRPF personnel, four state police and one civilian were gunned down by Naxals in Jeerum Nallah area of Sukma district of Bastar, 400 kilometres from here.
The investigators had also learnt that Ramanna, a member of the central committee of the Naxals, was present in Bastar in the last few days.
On March 5, the police got a tip-off that Surendra and another leader Jagdish, the 'commander' of Dantewada platoon no. 26 of the Naxals, were "rehearsing" for a big attack with about 50 cadres, sources told PTI.
Police apprehended a big attack along Dantewada-Sukma road, Darbha-Katekalyan road, Katekalyan-Kuakonda road or Jagdalpur-Sukma road, and the local police were alerted about the same, they said.
On March 6, the State Intelligence Bureau learnt that about 30 Maoists had assembled near Jeerum, and speculated that they could target the police providing security to the road construction work there. The State Intelligence had also warned of Naxal activities in Tongpal area, sources added.
Similar information about Maoists assembling came on the next couple of days too.
According to the sources, the investigation so far had revealed that Surendra was the mastermind of yesterday's attack. He was involved in several such incidents earlier.
R K Vij, Additional Director General of Police (Naxal operations) conceded that the fact that yesterday's attack could not be averted despite intelligence inputs should cause concern. If there were any lapses, they would come to light during the investigation, he added.
