IB sources in Gadchiroli told this newspaper that a major attack on security agencies was being planned by the Naxals since the last two months.
Naxals in the area continuously kept spreading rumours of murders and arson and the police who could not find anything at the spot had started taking the situation lightly.
According to sources, intelligence inputs of a possible attack was also taken lightly and this resulted in the incident on Tuesday in which 12 CRPF personnel were killed in a Naxal-triggered blast. Police sources further said that the CRPF vehicle took a chance and did not wait for road clearance by the local police before plying.
“Road opening clearances are given by local policemen who patrol the area on foot and are prepared for an armed attack. Once they give the clearance after checking the roads and Naxal presence, the vehicles ply on them. On Tuesday, while men from one police station gave clearance of the road that fell in their jurisdiction, the clearance from the opposite direction, which fell in the jurisdiction of another police station, was yet to be given. The CRPF vehicle took a chance but the tragedy could have been averted had they waited for the clearance,” the official said.