In Bahrain, Rajnath Singh keeps an eye on developments at home

Mukesh Ranjan

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 25

Home Minister Rajnath Singh, though in Bahrain, as part of the Modi government’s policy of diplomatic offensive against Pakistan for its role in fostering terrorism in India, is keeping a close watch on the domestic developments.

The Home Minister on Tuesday took stock of the security situation along the Odisha-Andhra Pradesh border with Odisha Chief Minister after reports came in that forces had killed 24 Maoists in a fierce gun battle. He also spoke to the Delhi Police Commissioner on phone, as the National Capital witnessed a blast in the Naya Bazaar area, situated in the north of the city here on Tuesday.

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Singh called up Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and asked for details, sources said, adding that the Chief Minister apprised him of the incident and the prevailing situation in the state.

On his part the Home Minister assured Patnaik of providing all central assistance in its fight against the Naxals, sources said.

At least 24 Maoists, including their top leaders, were gunned down in a fierce gun battle with security forces in Odisha’s Malkangiri district on the border with Andhra Pradesh on Monday, giving a major blow to the ultras.

A commando of the elite anti-Naxal force, Greyhounds of Andhra Pradesh, was also killed, while another commando was injured in the encounter that took place in the cut-off area of remote Chitrakonda on the Andhra-Odisha border.

Earlier in the day, as soon as the news of a blast in the National Capital emerged, Singh called up Delhi Police Commissioner Alok Verma and instructed him to keep a tight vigil in the city in view of the festival season, sources in the MHA said, adding that he also enquired about the death toll, as once person is learnt to have been killed in the blast. Verma briefed the Home Minister about the incident and the steps taken, they added.

It is learnt that Singh instructed the Delhi Police Commissioner to arrest those involved in the incident and take all possible measures to ensure peace in the city.

As per media reports, a senior police officer said the cause of the explosion was yet to be ascertained. Forensic teams and officers from the Special Cell are on the spot and collecting samples. Further details are awaited.