The Hindu : Front Page : 8 killed as terrorists attack CRPF centre in Rampur

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jan 02, 2008
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8 killed as terrorists attack CRPF centre in Rampur

Atiq Khan

Uttar Pradesh police suspect the involvement of Lashkar-e-Taiba

LUCKNOW: Eight persons including seven jawans were killed in a pre-dawn terrorist attack on the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Group Centre in Rampur in Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday.

Three CRPF constables, a civil police jawan and a home guard were injured in the attack as the CRPF men intercepted the militants. The injured have been admitted to the Moradabad District Hospital, where the condition of two is stated to be critical.

Police and security agencies suspect that the attack was carried out by the Lashkar-e-Taiba.

The terrorists escaped under cover of darkness although unconfirmed reports said one of them was hit in the leg when the CRPF opened fire in retaliation.

Central intelligence agencies had alerted the Uttar Pradesh government of a possible terrorist attack on the CRPF camp, especially during a recruitment exercise. The government received this communication on November 28, 2007, five days after the serial blasts in the Varanasi, Faizabad and Lucknow civil courts.

However, Chief Minister Mayawati dismissed allegations of intelligence failure and security lapse. She said the CRPF was responsible for the internal security of the Group Centre.

The Intelligence Bureau alert was conveyed to the CRPF centre by the District Magistrate and the police chief of Rampur, Ms. Mayawati told a press conference here. The manner in which the terror attack was mounted indicated that the CRPF was caught napping, she said.

According to J.N. Chamber, Principal Secretary, Home, the attack was carried out around 2.45 a.m. by two suspected “fidayeen” dressed as CRPF constables. They breached the outer security (which is the responsibility of the police), and started firing indiscriminately from AK-47 rifles on the security post, the guard room and the control room.

The Chief Minister sanctioned Rs. 1 lakh each to thenext of kin of the deceased.

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