New Delhi, July 3 (ANI): Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh met Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh here today in the shadow of the Central Reserve Police Force's (CRPF) June 27-28 anti-naxal operation that left 20 people dead.
"Bijapur encounter was not a planned encounter. Such sensitive issues should not be politicised," Raman Singh told media here after meeting Dr. Singh.
The encounter, which took place in the forests of Silger, an uncharted Maoist zone between the Naxal hotbed of Jagargunda and Basaguda in Bijapur District, was launched on June 27 in a joint operation by over 300 CRPF and state police personnel from three directions.
Raman Singh had earlier blamed the state Congress for politicising the encounter, saying the rebels are to be blamed if innocents have been killed during the gunbattle.
"If innocents were killed then it is the Naxals who are responsible. Naxals keep innocent villagers as back up for themselves. Congress should not politicise the matter," he added.
Union Home Secretary RK Singh also supported Raman Singh, saying that the CRPF acted against the Naxals after getting the relevant information.
He also pointed out that the bullet injury suffered by the security personnel was ample proof that there was nothing wrong with the encounter.
Congress leaders and human rights activists have alleged that the victims of the June 29 offensive were innocent Adivasis and not Naxals. However, the CRPF claimed its men had only retaliated. (ANI)
