Chhattisgarh Naxal attack: Centre, state officials hold security review meeting

At the joint meeting that was attended by Union Home Secretary R K Singh, it has reportedly been concluded that there's a need to intensify anti-Naxal operations in all affected states, including Chhattisgarh. "Our operations will be fastened and strengthened," Mr Singh said after the meeting.

Mr Singh also insisted on the need for better coordination between Naxal-hit states. He however ruled out the use of Army for anti-Naxal operations. Terming the massacre a "shameful incident", he said all civilized people should condemn it.

The meeting that discussed the changes required in the strategy to tackle the Naxal menace was also attended by Intelligence Bureau (IB) Secretary SA Ibrahim, Director General of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Prannay Sahay and top police officers from Chhattisgarh. (Complete Coverage)

Chhattisgarh Congress chief Nand Kumar Patel and senior party leader Mahendra Karma were killed when the Naxals attacked their convoy on Saturday. Another senior party leader had a narrow escape.

The Naxals have claimed the responsibility for the attack. In a four-page statement released to the media, they have blamed both the BJP and the Congress for their alleged "anti-people policies."

Rejecting their "explanation", union minister Jairam Ramesh today said the massacre was a "cold-blooded carnage." He also said, "Maoists are terrorists, they instill terror and fear." (Watch)

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh has reportedly directed the police to provide Z plus security to the families of the two slain leaders. This after reports said they were receiving threats from the Maoists.

Top Congress leaders have alleged that the state's BJP government did not provide adequate protection to the Congress leaders who were attacked while they were returning from a rally in Sukma as part of their 'Parivartan Yatra'. Countering the claim, Chief Minister Raman Singh wrote a letter to the state Governor claiming that nearly 800 securitymen were deputed for the Congress rally. However, speaking to NDTV, Mr Singh has admitted that there could have been several security lapses. (Chhattisgarh attack - what went wrong? A report from Ground Zero)

When the Maoists attacked the leaders on Saturday evening, there were only 20 odd policemen who put up a brief but a brave fight.  They returned fire when the rebels rained bullets on the convoy, but soon ran out of ammunition. (Katakam Sudarshan: the brain behind Chhatisgarh masscare?)

Home Ministry sources also claim that little or no effort was made to sanitise the routes taken by the Congress leaders, but they concede that the Congress politicians may also be to blame as it's against security protocol that almost all the top Congress leaders of Chhattisgarh were travelling in a single convoy of 25 cars.