Kolkata, Feb 18 (IANS) The West Bengal government Thursday constituted an expert committee to probe Monday's Maoist attack that killed 25 people, including 24 security personnel, and left several injured in West Midnapore district.

'The committee will look into various aspects like how the entire incident happened, how many Maoists participated in the operation, what was the level of alertness on the part of the security personnel etc,' Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee told reporters here, three days after the most brazen Maoist attack in the state so far.

He said the enquiry would also throw light on the nature of the attack and the modus operandi of the left wing ultras.

'According to initial reports, we came to know that the operation was organised by different Maoist squads. Some people from outside the state also participated in the attack. We are investigating every possible aspect of the case,' Bhattacharjee said.

He declined to divulge any further details about the enquiry committee and post-attack intelligence inputs.

He also admitted that 'lack of alertness' on the part of security personnel caused the

attack.

Terming the attack as 'extremely heinous', the chief minister said the state government had identified an alternative location in a nearby forest to relocate the ravaged Shilda police camp as soon as possible.

Bhattacharjee said the enquiry committee would comprise senior officials from the state home department and police.

'We have alerted all the police stations and joint forces camps in the Maoist-affected region. Now we are on the offensive and we are hopeful of recovering from this problem,' he said.