Claiming there was a conspiracy behind the attack on AAP leader Soni Sori, Bastar police said it has gathered strong leads in the case and the investigation will be completed soon.
"Umar Khalid (a research scholar), who is in jail in Delhi for raising anti-India slogans, had mentioned Sori in his speech on the JNU campus.
Moreover, CPI (Maoist) spokesperson Vikalp had condemned the attack on Sori in a press note issued by him.
"All these clearly show the incident of attack on Sori was part of a conspiracy," Inspector General of Police (Bastar Range) SRP Kalluri said in a statement.
Sori's face was blackened with grease-like substance by three unidentified motorcycle-borne men while she was travelling on a bike with one of her associates from Jagdalpur, the headquarters of Bastar, to Geedam in Dantewada on the night of February 20. The attackers are yet to be nabbed.
The 41-year-old tribal activist was taken to Geedam and shifted from there to Jagdalpur hospital, where she was kept under observation. On February 21, she was moved to New Delhi by her supporters and admitted in Apollo Hospital where she is currently recuperating.
The IG said the seriousness of police in cracking the case is underlined by the fact that a three-member Special Investigation Team, two of them IPS officers, was immediately constituted and visited Delhi to record the statements Sori and Rinki Thakur -- who was accompanying her that night.
Kalluri announced a cash reward of Rs 30,000 to anyone providing clues leading to the arrest of the attackers. She is under treatment to prevent any infection on her face and does not require any plastic surgery," Kalluri said. Soni will be discharged in a few days after which her statement will be recorded.