Lalgarh (WB), July 04: Security forces and police
reclaimed two more areas from Maoists in West Midnapore
district, officials said here on Saturday.
In a four-pronged attack, a team of security forces
and police set out from bases in Binpur, another from Pirakata
and one each from Salboni and Ramgarh to converge on Kalimudri
and Madhupur villages, eight kilometers from these two
villages, West Midnapore Superintendent of Police Manoj Verma
who led the operations, told reporters.
The fifth-phase of the operation, entering its 16th
day, was to clear the villages and forests by building a
protective ring after capturing key locations to prevent
movement by Maoists who might still be holed up.
"The forces met with no resistance and flushing out
operations were conducted on an eight kilometer stretch,"
Verma said.
"The operations began at 6:00 am and the forces
reached Kalimudri and Madhupur by afternoon," he added.
"We have been unable to enter the area in the last
eight months. We are now receiving cooperation from the
people," Verma said.
In Kolkata, Home Secretary Ardhandu Sen said that
three Maoists, including a woman, were arrested today from
Ayodhya Hills in Purulia district from whom explosives, a
rifle and Maoist literature were seized.
The security forces, which began the operations in
West Midnapore against Maoist-backed tribals on June 19 after
demolishing a human shield by tribals at Pirakata, took over
Lalgarh police station on June 20, Ramgarh on June 27,
Kantapahari on June 29 and Dharampur on July one.
The Maoist-backed tribals, who began their agitation
in November last year against 'police atrocities' had taken
over the areas after police withdrew from camps fearing that
their firearms would be snatched.
The tribals went on the warpath after police raids on
their homes following a landmine blast by Maoists on November
2 at Salboni in the district, which Chief Minister Buddhadeb
Bhattacharjee and two former Union ministers had narrowly
escaped.
The tribals formed a platform, People's Committee
Against Police Atrocities (PCPA) led by Chhatradhar Mahato,
whom the security forces and West Bengal government were
looking.
Bureau Report