Chhattisgarh massacre: Bastar SP suspended, IG shifted

Heads rolled in the Chhattisgarh police administration on Tuesday with the government suspending Bastar Superintendent of Police Mayank Shrivasta and shunting out Bastar range Inspector General of Police Himanshu Gupta, in the wake of the Maoist attack on Congress leaders.

"Bastar SP Mayank Shrivastava has been suspended while Inspector General, Bastar range, Himanshu Gupta was shifted to Police headquarters" secretary, public relations, Aman Singh told PTI.

Shrivastava has been attached to DGP office till further order and Gupta will now serve as IG, Crime Investigation Department, Singh added.

Ajay Yadav will be new SP of Bastar district and Arun Deo Gautam IG, Bastar range, Singh added. Chhattisgarh government has already ordered a judicial probe into the incident.

The state government has come under criticism for security lapses that had led to the incident, something acknowledged by Chief Minister Raman Singh.

Heavily-armed Maoists had on Saturday last ambushed a convoy of Congress leaders at Darbha, killing 27 people including Pradesh Congress Committee chief Patel, his son Dinesh, senior Congress leader Mahendra Karma and ex-Member of Legislative Assembly Uday Mudaliyar and  injuring 37 others, including former Union minister V C Shukla.

The National Investigation Agency has also begun probe into the incident.