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Wednesday, Mar 07, 2007
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Patil: Mahato did not inform police

Special Correspondent

MP was provided with Y category security

NEW DELHI: Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil on Tuesday said the slain Jharkhand Mukti Morcha MP Sunil Mahato had not informed the police of his visit to a social function at Bakuria in East Singhbhum district, where he was shot dead on Sunday, allegedly by naxalites.

Giving clarifications sought on his statement in the Rajya Sabha, marred by a BJP-led walkout, Mr. Patil said though Mr. Mahato was provided with Y category security in view of a threat to his life, "I can categorically say that no information [about his visit] was given to the district police." The MP was surrounded by alleged naxalites including women and shot dead along with two security personnel and a party worker.

Acknowledging that inter-State police coordination would prevent naxalites from taking advantage of contiguous borders to escape after committing a crime in a State, he said the Centre had convened several meetings to deal with this problem. However, some States had reservations about a permanent coordination mechanism or listing certain offences as federal crimes, in solving which the Centre could take an active part.

"That is why we have asked for an understanding among States on the movement of the police from one State to another [in pursuit of naxalites]." The Soli Sorabjee committee had been asked to give its views on this issue and the Centre was keen on cooperating with the States in tackling certain types of crimes. "But finally the States would have to cooperate. If they don't, it will be very difficult." Earlier, Mr. Patil said the Government condemned the killing of Mahato and the Home Ministry was keeping a "close watch'' on the situation. He listed the steps taken to help the States counter naxalites.

Members seek security

Seeking clarifications, a large number of members including the former Union Minister Yashwant Sinha, sought enhanced security for themselves. Among the exceptions were Brinda Karat (CPI-M), Ram Deo Bhandari (Rashtriya Janata Dal) and S. S. Ahluwalia (BJP) with the latter opposing the plea on the ground that a tighter security cordon would cut them off from the public.

Ms. Karat referred to the problem of State boundaries and pointed out that naxalites from Jharkhand were targeting CPI (M) workers in neighbouring West Bengal for politically campaigning against them.

Digvijay Singh (Janata Dal-United) wanted to know why Mr. Patil did not visit the site of killing of a sitting member.

Replicate AP experiment

Mr. Sinha said that since Mr. Patil had acknowledged the success of the Andhra Pradesh police's anti-naxal squad `Greyhounds' it should be replicated in other States.

Arun Shourie (BJP) said it took an incident like Mahato killing to "change the Government's tune on matters like this."

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