Naxal attack: Shinde visits Nand Kumar Patel's family

Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde today visited the family of slain Chhattisgarh Congress chief Nand Kumar Patel at his native Nadeli village in Raigarh district and assured them of justice and his full support.

Shinde, accompanied by senior officials, landed at Jindal airport in Raigarh around 11 am from Delhi and directly went to the village by helicopter.

Director General of Police Ramniwas was at the airport along with senior officials to receive him.

Shinde met Patel's family members, offered his condolences and paid tributes to the late leader and his son Dinesh at his native village.

He condemned the deadly Maoist attack on the Congress Parivartan Yatra on May 25 that killed 27 people, including PCC chief Patel, his son Dinesh, senior party leader Mahendra Karma and ex-MLA Uday Mudaliyar and injured 37 others, including former Union minister V C Shukla.

Balak Patel, a relative of Patel, complained to Shinde about the security lapses and alleged political conspiracy behind the incident.

He also alleged that the state government had failed to make proper use of security forces being provided by the Centre to combat Naxalism.

To which Shinde said, "We have ordered an inquiry (NIA) of CBI level. The investigation will reveal who are responsible for the incident. I will look after your grievances and justice will be done with your family."

Later, talking to reporters, the Home Minister said the attack was bigger than a terror strike.

"The incident is bigger than terrorism," he said.

Admitting that there were security lapses, he said, "We have ordered an NIA inquiry to probe it."

The Home Minister is scheduled to hold a high-level meeting in Raipur later in the day at Vidhan Bhavan.