The Home Ministry has asked the Defence Ministry to take action against IAF men who had abandoned an injured policeman and an armed helicopter in Chhattisgarh, saying the incident was extremely disturbing.

Home Secretary R K Singh asked his counterpart in the Defence Ministry Shashikant Sharma to institute an inquiry and take appropriate action in connection with the January 18th incident when Maoist' gunfire had forced an Indian Air Force helicopter to make emergency landing. A state police wireless operator had suffered gunshot injuries in the incident.

He said the conduct of the IAF men in abandoning the helicopter, their weapons and the injured wireless operator appears to be a clear violation of Standard Operating Procedure .

The helicopter had to make emergency landing at an undesignated place, 2.25 kms from Chintagufa police station.