What went wrong in Dantewada to be probed: Chidambaram

NEW DELHI - An inquiry has been set up into Tuesday’s Maoist massacre of 76 security personnel in Dantewada to find out “what went wrong”, Home Minister P. Chidambaram said Thursday and admitted that security personnel did not have adequate number of mine protected vehicles (MVPs) for operations against the rebels.

“We have taken a decision to institute an inquiry into what went wrong,” P. Chidambaram told reporters here. He said the report will have to be submitted in a “tight timeframe”.

“I maintain what I said on Wednesday that something went wrong. We have to find that out,” he said.

The home minister said that a mine protected vehicle used by the security forces in the Dantewada operation was blown up by Maoists. “The mine protected vehicle was blown up, killing the driver,” said Chidambaram, noting that MVPs can only sustain a certain level of explosive impact.

While the paramilitary forces have ordered more MPVs, there was limited capacity to manufacture them in the required numbers, he added.

“I had been told by the CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) that they have ordered 280 MPVs. But, you have to understand our capacity to manufacture MPVs both in the private and public sector is severely limited,” he said.

He said the security operation in Dantewada region where Maoists staged the bloodbath in the Chintalnar hilly area was a joint decision of the Chhattisgarh state police and the central paramilitary troopers.

The minister reasserted that the mandate of the union home ministry in anti-Maoist operations, by sending central paramilitary forces, was to assist the state police.

“I had mentioned it in my statement yesterday. Central paramilitary forces have been provided to help the state government carry out anti-Maoist operations, restore civil administration and restart developmental work,” he said.

Chidambaram said the Maoists were funding themselves through looting of banks and extortion, mainly of mining companies. The arms were procured “across the border” or taken from security personnel in operations.

“There are bazaars across the border. You can always get arms from there. Where do you think northeast rebels are getting the arms from?” Chidambaram said to reporters.

“There are several places across the border where you can buy arms. You can Google check… You should visit these places if you have not,” he said.

The home minister said India shared an open border with Nepal, Bangladesh and Myanmar through which the rebels were clandestinely smuggling weapons.

When asked if the census operation would be held in the Maoist-dominated areas, Chidambaram said, “We hope that there will be no impediment by the CPI-Maoist.”