Murder leaves uneasy posers for local admn

The killing of Jamshedpur Jharkhand Mukti Morcha MP Sunil Mahato's may just throw up some uncomfortable questions for the local administration.

The killing of Jamshedpur Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) MP Sunil Mahato’s may just throw up some uncomfortable questions for the local administration. The Union Home Ministry, which feels the killing was a retaliatory action of the Naxals — has asked for details of the security provided to him during the football match.

“Mahato was a key functionary of the Nagrik Suraksha Samiti — a civil movement against Naxalism. We are looking at the security provided to him during the sports function and the standard operating procedures,” Union Home Secretary VK Duggal said here today.

Minister of state for home Sri Prakash Jaiswal also visited the site of incident to take stock of the situation.

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The Home Ministry, which says it could be possible retaliatory action of the Naxals, is now awaiting a detailed report from the state government. (The initial report sent by the state government had barely given the details of the incident.) The ministry has also noted that the incident occurred in the same belt where the outlawed CPI (Maoist) had held its 9th Congress last month — calling for intensifying their campaign.

Taking cue from the incident, the ministry has outlined the need for identifying sensitive areas as well as leaders who had taken a strong stand against Naxalism. “Though it is the primary task of the government we will assist them,” Duggal promised.

Jharkhand’s inability to contain Naxal violence has made it an area of concern for the Centre. There is a general feeling that Jharkhand had not done enough. The high number of vacancies in the state police force and improper use of funds at the state’s disposal have been brought to the government’s notice a number of times.