Report on Silda camp attack getting ready: Home Secretary

West Bengal Governor M K Narayanan visited the EFR base at Salua Paschim Midnapure to speak with the bereaved family members of the jawans killed in the attack on an EFR camp at Silda by Maoists15th February 2010. Photo: Sushanta Patronobish.

The probe report into the Maoist attack on the EFR camp at Silda will soon be submitted before the West Bengal government.

“The preparation of the report began today and will be handed over to the government soon,” Home Secretary Ardhendu Sen, who headed the three-member probe committee, told reporters here on Saturday.

Besides inquiring into the possible security lapses, the committee was also determining the role of the police at the time of the attack as well as the efficacy of the local intelligence network.

The EFR personnel at the camp were caught off guard when Maoists stormed the camp at Silda in West Midnapore district on February 15 and opened fire, killing 24 personnel.

A committee was set up on February 22 by Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee to probe into the attack.

Widows of the slain personnel, meanwhile, alleged that the State government had paid them Rs. 13 lakh as compensation against the promised Rs. 15 lakh and demanded a CBI probe.

Mr. Sen also visited the Manikpara police outpost on the outskirts of the town which the People’s Committee against Police Atrocity (PCPA) had tried to storm a month ago.

Asked about the indefinite bandh called by PCPA to protest against a police raid on their ‘health centre’, he said the administration would take measures to ensure smooth vehicular traffic.

“Some shop owners in Jhargram town kept their business establishments open after we were able to persuade them,” he said.

The Home Secretary earlier held a meeting with ADG (CID) Raj Kanojia, District Magistrate Narayan Swarup Nigam, IG (West) Zulfikar Hassan and Superintendent of Police Manoj Verma.