Jharkhand reviews VIP security after MP's assassination

Ranchi, March 8 The Jharkhand government will review the security of politicians, senior officials and others on the Maoist hit list after the sensational murder of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha MP Sunil Mahato.

The state police headquarters has been asked to submit a list of important people who are said to be targeted by Maoist guerrillas and the arrangements made to protect them.

The government is also planning to convene an all-party meeting to discuss the Maoist issue and the security of VIPs. The move comes after legislators demanded more security following Mahato's killing near Jamshedpur by suspected Maoist guerrillas on March 4.

'We will review security of each politician and police official facing security threat from Maoist rebels. We will also focus on the security of legislators and parliamentarians who come from Maoist-dominated districts,' a senior police official told IANS.

'The review will find out whether the security provided is enough to protect them or not and what more could be done,' he said.

More than 20 politicians and nearly a dozen police officials are on the hit list of Maoist rebels.

These include Chief Minister Madhu Koda, two former chief ministers Arjun Munda and Babulal Marandi, former home minister Sudesh Mahto, Water Resources Minister Kamlesh Singh and Rural Development Minister Enos Ekka.

Police headquarters has sent a letter to district police chiefs seeking details of VIP security arrangements.

The top brass has also been embarrassed by the behaviour of commandos deputed to protect Sunil Mahato. While three of his bodyguards were killed, two commandos escaped from the spot leaving their rifles.

'We are shocked that two commandos escaped leaving their sophisticated weapons. We will also try to find out what could be done to deploy more professional commandos on duty,' said a police official involved in anti-extremist operations.