As the country grapples with one of the worst Naxal attacks in recent times, home minister Sushilkumar Shinde holidays in the US.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress President Sonia Gandhi, party Vice-President Rahul Gandhi, Minister of State for Home RPN Singh, Home Secretary Designate Anil Goswami had visited Chhattisgarh while Union Home Secretary R K Singh, Director of Intelligence Bureau Syed Asif Ibrahim and other senior Central officials followed soon after. Shinde extended his visit to May 29 after his official visit to the US ended on May 22.

Shinde is believed to have spoken to Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh and announced that the probe would be handed over to the NIA.

Today, MoS Home, RPN Singh told CNN IBN, "I can't speak for Home Minister's absence."