Slain CRPF jawans' blood-stained uniforms found in garbage bin

Raipur, Dec 4: Blood-stained uniforms and shoes of some of the CRPF personnel who were killed in the Sukma Naxal attack were today found in a garbage bin on the hospital premises, sparking outrage.

Opposition Congress leaders said it showed "insensitivity and disrespect" of the authorities and demanded an apology from the BJP government in the state.

District Congress chief Vikas Upadhyay and others visited Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar Memorial Hospital and took away the uniforms and other belongings of the jawans to the Congress office.

"We rushed there (to the hospital) after learning that the uniforms of the slain CRPF men were lying in a dustbin filled with garbage near the mortuary where their autopsies took place," Upadhyay said.

"We collected four sets of blood-stained uniforms and 10 pairs of shoes and carried those to Congress Bhawan. Later, CRPF officials came here and we handed over all the belongings to them," he added.

Fourteen CRPF personnel, including two officers, were killed on Monday in a Naxal attack in the Chintagufa region of South Bastar's Sukma district.

Bodies of the slain personnel were airlifted and sent to their families yesterday.

"Chhattisgarh government should apologise to the families of martyred jawans as well as to the country for this disrespect," said state Congress chief Bhupesh Baghel.

Baghel alleged that in 2009, bodies of four state police personnel who were killed in a Maoist attack in Dantewada district had been transported in a garbage truck.

"As per the procedure, police bring back the belongings (of a deceased) following post-mortem. After receiving the information that some uniforms and belongings were found left there, CRPF officials were asked to collect them," Additional Director General of Police (anti-Naxal operations), RK Vij said.

Deputy Inspector General (DIG), CRPF, Pradeep Chandra said a probe would be conducted in this regard.

Meanwhile, the dean of Ambedkar hospital, Vivek Chaudhary, said, "After a post-mortem is performed, the viscera and other remains are preserved and not kept openly. The video that I saw today (of the blood-stained uniforms left lying in the open) is very unfortunate."