Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh has admitted the “security lapses” that had led to the killing of key Congress leaders by Naxalites recently. He however rejected the opposition charge that adequate security was not provided to the leaders. “The charge that we did not provide adequate security is not correct. The government did make arrangements to ensure the safety of leaders who were on the yatra. But definitely there are some security lapses. An inquiry has already been ordered to fix the responsibility,” Singh said.

He said strict action will be taken against those found responsible for the lapses on the basis of the inquiry report which will go into the circumstances leading to the May 25 Maoist attack on Congress leaders’ convoy. The attack killed 27 people including former State Home Minister Mahendra Karma, an architect of ‘Salwa Judum’ (anti-Naxal vigilante groups) and State Pradesh Congress Committee Chief Nand Kumar Patel and his son Dinesh. Former Union Minister V.C. Shukla who was injured in the attack died subsequently.