Lax security arrangements facilitated Naxal attack in Jharkhand: Police

Lax security arrangements facilitated a Naxal attack in Jharkhand in early hours on Saturday, in which seventeen people, including former Jharkhand Chief Minister Babulal Marandis son Anup Marandi, were killed, police said.

Giridih (Jharkhand), Oct 27 : Lax security arrangements facilitated a Naxal attack in Jharkhand in early hours on Saturday, in which seventeen people, including former Jharkhand Chief Minister Babulal Marandi's son Anup Marandi, were killed, police said.

According to police sources, about 32 Naxalites, including 12 women, raided a small village in the state's Giridih District during a cultural programme.

"The head police officer had left the place, while the event was still going on. This simply comes across as irresponsible behaviour," said Arun Kumar Singh, Superintendent of Police, Giridih.

The police are investigating the matter.

The incident took place during a cultural programme at Chilkhadia village in Jharkhand's Giridih District at around 1.00 a.m. Heavily armed naxalites, who had mingled with the crowd, opened indiscriminate fire and exploded bombs.

Four injured, including two women, are undergoing treatment at Giridih hospital.

Anup's brother Nunulal, who was also present, escaped unhurt.

Nunulal said although a written application had been submitted for police protection, the authorities did not take requisite steps.

"It is their (police) fault," he said.

The Government has announced Rs 1 lakh compensation for the families of all those who were killed.

Giridih is the home district of Babulal Marandi.

In March, Lok Sabha MP from Jamshedpur, Sunil Mahato was shot dead by Naxalities about 40 km from Ranchi while attending a football match.

Jharkhand is one of the 13 states hit by the Maoist insurgency that began more than three decades ago.

According to Home Ministry, 76 districts in Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Maharashtra, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal are 'badly affected by Maoist violence'.

ANI