Combined forces capture Katapahari Maoist base

Lalgarh, June 29 : The combined forces carrying out an operation against the Maoists in West Bengal's Lalgarh Monday morning captured Katapahari, a stronghold of the rebels. At Sijua nearby, gunfights continued between the Maoists and the forces on Monday afternoon.

The securitymen comprising West Bengal police and central paramilitary forces reached Katapahari from Ramgarh, which they had captured on Saturday. DIG (CID) S N Gupta led the operation. The securitymen advanced slowly behind anti-landmine vehicle but finally regained control of the area without any resistance.

'This is part of our operation. We got success,' Praveen Kumar, DIG, Midnapore Range, told reporters after they drove out Maoists from Katapahari.

Police said they would set up camps at Katapahari and earn the faith of the villagers.

The police and paramilitary forces have launched an operation to liberate the areas in Midnapore West of the Maoist rebels who had captured Lalgarh and driven out police from the area.

Earlier, the People's Committee Against Police Atrocities (PCAPA), which allegedly is backed by the Maoists, had set up two new relief camps on Sunday, one at Tiantikri and another at Kalaimuri in the Kantapahari area.

PCAPA leader Chatradhar Mahato said: 'We have supporters in every village. Once the Central forces are withdrawn our supporters will again come out in full strength to stop police atrocities on common people here.'

Two Maoist cadres were arrested on Sunday while planting a landmine in Sarenga, Bankura. On Monday, however, police evaded a question on the arrest of Chatradhar Mahato.

Inspector-general (law and order) Raj Kanojia said the state had asked for five more companies of central forces.