Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda on Monday said that a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into the gunning down of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha member of Parliament Sunil Mahato had been recommended to find out whether there was any conspiracy angle to the killing.
"The CBI inquiry has been recommended to find out the conspiracy angle, if any, as to why the football match was organised on a holiday and whether there was a security lapse," Koda told reporters in Jamshedpur.
He was replying to a question on whether there was any lapse on the part of the district administration or failure of
intelligence agencies or if there was a conspiracy behind the killing.
To another query, he also said the adminsitration was pondering over whether to seek army help.
Accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Sudhir Mahato, Science and Technology Minister Chandraprakash Choudhury, Congress MP Furkan Ansari and other leaders, Koda reached the steel city to pay homage to the departed leader.
Koda on Monday apprised Governor Syed Sibtey Razi of his government's security arrangements in the wake of the murder of Sunil Mahato.
"I have informed the governor of the administration's strategy against extremists, determination in seeing off the
12-hour statewide bandh peacefully and how the state government is determined to control Naxalism," Koda told
newsmen after his 45-minute meeting with Razi.
The governor had on Sunday night summoned the chief minister soon after Naxals killed Mahato and three others from close range at Bakudia in East Singhbhum district.
The chief minister said his government's priority was to provide security to the common man and the police had stepped
up operation against Naxals.
He said three companies of police, one from Ranchi under the zonal IG and two from Jamshedpur, have been despatched to launch extensive raids against Naxals.
"Our police officials are also in touch with their counterparts in West Bengal, as, according to information available, the Naxals crossed over the borders of Bengal after perpetrating the cowardly act," Koda said.
"Prima facie, it appears to be the handiwork of a group of Naxalites at Dumaria near the incident site, who crossed over
the borders after committing the heinous crime," he said adding, the police in bordering Midnapur district of West
Bengal were also assisting the Jharkhand police.
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