West Bengal wants central troopers to stay till July end

Lalgarh (West Bengal), July 5: The West Bengal government, which has launched a massive security operation to flush out Maoist ultras from here, Sunday said it would not seek more central forces from New Delhi but wanted the deployed paramilitary troopers to stay on till the month end.

"We would like the central forces to be here till the end of July. They will be here if the central government agrees to our request," state Home Secretary Ardhendu Sen told reporters during his visit to this troubled enclave of West Midnapore district on the 18th day of the security operation.

"The joint operation by the central and state security forces will be on till things become normal in this area. But we feel the existing number of central forces is adequate. We are not asking for more forces," Sen said, after meeting state secretaries - specially deputed to the district for restarting the development process - and block and district level officials.

The security forces moved into the troubled area June 18 after the Maoists, alongside their associate tribal People's Committee Against Police Atrocities (PCAPA), virtually created a "free zone" by torching police camps and offices of the state's ruling communists and driving out the civil administration.

Sen said PCAPA supremo Chhattradhar Mahato was still at Lalgarh but was eluding arrest. "Mahato is still in Lalgarh. But he has not been tracked down so far."

The home secretary denied that the state has asked for a National Security Guard (NSG) operation in the area.

Laying stress on ensuring socio-economic development of not only Lalgarh, but of the entire tribal belt comprising West Midnapore, Purulia and Bankrua districts, Sen said the government was identifying the problems and coming up with schemes on a priority basis.

Six secretaries have already been stationed in the area to devise scheme after getting a grassroot level feedback from the locals about their needs.

The locals put forth various demands to the home secretary, inclulding the setting up of a college here.

Meanwhile, the security personnel have been conducting combing operations in interior villages in search of the Maoists. The troopers Saturday went from house to house in Kalimudri and Madhupur villages - where the Maoists were believed to be hiding.

The rebels fired on the forces twice but had to retreat in the face of heavy return fire.

Lalgarh has been on the boil since November last year when a land mine exploded on the route of the convoy of Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and then central ministers Ram Vilas Paswan and Jitin Prasada.

Complaining of police atrocities after the blast, angry tribals backed by Maoists launched an agitation, virtually cutting off the area from the rest of West Midnapore district.

Maoists are active in areas under 21 police stations in the state's three western districts - West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia.