Bhopal, Jun 3 (IANS): An administrative official of Additional District Magistrate (ADM) rank has been appointed to investigate the Guna killings, in which three police personnel were shot dead last month by alleged poachers in Madhya Pradesh.

Guna district collector Frank Noble A. has authorised Aditya Singh (ADM) to probe the matter. As per official sources, the investigation will be conducted focusing on various angles, including the role of police, forest department etc.

Other subjects like who gave tip-off about the presence of poachers in the forest area to the police, whether the forest department was informed before the police team went to the forest and what response the team received etc. will be part of the investigation, sources told IANS.

Inspector General (IG) of the Gwalior-Chambal division, Anil Sharma, was removed from his post within 24 hours of the incident for not reaching the spot on time. Later, Guna Superintendent of Police (SP) Rajeev Kumar Mishra was also transferred to the police headquarters in Bhopal.

On the intervening night of May 13-14, three cops were killed by alleged poachers in a forest area in Guna district. The cops who were on night patrolling were killed after a group of poachers opened fire on them.

One poacher was also killed in the same encounter while another was killed in an encounter that took place later on the same day.

A third poacher was killed in an encounter a few days later. Later, two other accused, who were arrested, were shot in the legs after they allegedly tried to escape from police custody.

The incident had sparked a political controversy in the state, and both the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress had accused each other of association with the alleged poachers.

The deceased policemen were sub-inspector Rajkumar Jatav, principal constable Neeraj Bhargava and constable Santram Meena.