Burkapal attack: Report hints at conspiracy

Bhopal: An internal probe report has suggested conspiracy in the April 24 Maoist ambush on a CRPF party at Burkapal in Chhattisgarh’s south Bastar district of Sukma leading to massacre of 25 troopers.

The BSNL towers in the region had gone dead hours before the deadly ambush was carried out and started functioning after the attack, an internal probe report of the CRPF has disclosed, indicating a conspiracy angel.

Sources in CRPF told this newspaper that there should be thorough probe into the aspect to “nail” Maoist moles, if they existed, in the government machinery.

This is the first time an official probe has hinted at sabotage leading to one of the deadliest attacks on security forces in Bastar.

The report has revealed that security establishment had overlooked “vital clues” indicating preparations by the Maoists hours before the attack. According to the report, locals were seen busy celebrating an “unseasonal” festival in Burkapal on the intervening night of April 23-24. The next day, when the attack was carried out, the whole village was found deserted. Besides, suspicious movement by unknown people was noticed near the CRPF camp in Burkapal, which was conveniently ignored, the report noted.

A woman, a purported Maoist informer, was seen moving suspiciously near the CRPF camp at Burkapal.

Besides, the CRPF camp inmates had also spotted an unknown person passing through the area. He fled the spot when the troopers signalled him to come to them.

This newspaper had earlier reported suspicious movement of a woman in “red sari” near the camp barely a couple of hours before the attack. The mysterious woman was later found to be an outsider.

The Maoist informers had been conducting recce for some time before the attack to ascertain strength of the CRPF personnel in the camp and their movements.

The Maoists had waited at the ambush site for three days for the troopers to walk into their trap.