Ill-equipped cops reached attack site 3 hours late: NIA

Some media personnel reached the spot at Darbha even before a police rescue team could locate it.

Piecing together the sequence of events in last Saturdays attack by Maoists on a Congress convoy in Chhatishgarh,the National Investigation Agency has found that not only did the local police reach the site three hours after the attack but were also ill-equipped to fight the strong Maoist contingent.

In its preliminary report to the home ministry,the NIA also said that some media personnel had reached the spot at Darbha even before a police rescue team could locate it.

The agency has also suggested use of Chinese ammunition by the Maoists in the attack,according to officials. This revelation has set the alarm bells ringing,with fingers being pointed to smuggling of arms and ammunition from China. The agency also said that the role of some Northeastern insurgent groups cannot be ruled out.

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In the past,we have seen Naxals groups reaching out to Northeastern groups for training,arms and ammunition. It is possible that explosives and ammunition came from them, said a senior NIA official.

The NIA has also questioned some locals who are learnt to have provided the names of two local commanders of CPI Maoist identified as Papa Rao and Ganesh Ulike who have been active in the area and were seen days before the attack.

The NIA said it was common knowledge that the Congress rally was to be held at the designated place but no action was taken to secure the route.

The NIA also told MHA that the Maoists had kept an eye on the movement of the Congress convoy from the beginning.