Cops rushed into Naxal trap: Patil

As soon as Police Inspector Ashok Iyer learnt that trees had been felled to block the Dhanora-Murumgaon....

As soon as Police Inspector Ashok Iyer learnt that trees had been felled to block the Dhanora-Murumgaon state highway in north Gadchiroli on Thursday morning,he organised a team of 15 police personnel and rushed to the spot. It ended up being a decision that cost the 16 people their lives,including five women who became the first female police personnel to be killed by extremists in the state.

Sources said Iyer,54,decided to rush to the spot when standard operating procedure (SOP) advises a wait-and-watch approach due to the possibility of it being a trap. The 16-member team left the Dhanora police station around 2.20 pm. They also had two vehicles with them when the SOP clearly forbids use of vehicles for such operations. Both the vehicles were set on fire by the Naxalites, said to have numbered over 100.

Another convention is to avoid taking policewomen along as far as possible. There is no rule not to take women cops along,but generally it is avoided for such missions, a senior police officer told The Indian Express. As soon as the convoy reached the place,they came under heavy fire from all sides. The encounter lasted for about 30 minutes and ended with all 16 getting killed.

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State Home Minister Jayant Patil,who on Friday attended the gun salute ceremony in the honour of the deceased policemen,said,Instructions are always given about the drill to be followed on such occasions,like not to rush to the spot in view of the possibility of a trap on the spot. Iyer was very enthusiastic. He had sought Gadchiroli as his choice posting. Iyer left the police station around 2.20 pm for the spot which is 18 km from Dhanora. Around 4 pm,the police team reached the spot where the Naxals had laid the trap.

When specifically asked as to when the Dhanora police station received information about tree-felling on the road,Patil simply said,My answer is over. Superintendent of Police Rajesh Patil maintained that his men followed the search-and-move-ahead drill while reaching the spot. He was an experienced man and decisions may vary from situation to situation, he said.

Incidentally,the spot is notorious for Naxal traps with the last encounter in December also happening in the same area. For a change,however,Naxals didnt lay the trap along the winding part of the road passing through a small hillock,but slightly ahead in the plain area. And the police seemed to have just walked into it.

Iyers commitment to Gadchiroli apart,there appeared to be a sense of anger among the policemen against their officers as was evident from a Special Action Group commando creating a scene at the salute venue after the programme was over. It is all due to the officers, he was shouting. He was immediately whisked away by fellow policemen.

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Iyer belonged to Buldana and had previously worked with Gadchiroli police in the same area for three years. He had returned to Gadchiroli a few months ago. He is survived by his wife,two sons and mother. His late father Ramaswami was also a policeman and his younger brother Venkatswami is also a policeman with Buldana police.