Action sought against Jharkhand police officers

Ranchi, May 1 (IANS) Jharkhand Police have recommended the suspension of the Dumka district police superintendent and action against the deputy commissioner for negligence of duty in connection with a Maoist ambush that left eight members of a polling team dead.

Eight people, including five security personnel and three polling staff, were killed and five injured on April 24 when a bus they were travelling in hit a landmine near Palasi village in the district planted by the Maoists.

In a report to the state government, the police headquarters said: "The DC and SP deploy forces during polls and there were largescale irregularities in deployment of forces."

"...despite the report of presence of Maoists...the polling stations were not categorised as per set guidelines. The paramilitary forces and the state police were not deployed as per requirement in the Maoist affected areas," said the report by state police chief Rajiv Kumar.

Sources in the government said the report sought suspension of district's Superintendent of Police N.K. Mishra and action against Deputy Commissioner Harsh Mangala.

Earlier, Rajiv Kumar admitted strategic lapses which caused the incident.