KOLKATA: A task force comprising personnel of the West Bengal and Jharkhand police and Central paramilitary forces has been set up to coordinate operations against Maoists in areas near the border of the two States. This follows a directive from the Union Home Ministry.

The West Bengal Government has been concerned over reports of Maoists crossing the border from Jharkhand and indulging in subversive activities and returning back. Three districts — West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia — share the border with Jharkhand.

Chief Ministers of both States have held discussions on the menace and agreed that there was a need for greater coordination to tackle the problem.

Several hideouts

According to local intelligence reports, Maoists have several hideouts deep in the forests of Jharkhand where they plan operations in West Bengal.

Springboard

West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, in a recent interview to The Hindu, had reiterated that Maoists were trying to extend their sphere of influence in parts of West Bengal's three southwestern districts using Jharkhand both as a springboard as well as a safe haven.

West Bengal's Officer-on-Special Duty (Coordination), Chayan Mukherjee, who returned here from New Delhi on Friday after updating Central officials on matters relating to the task force, said that though Bihar is also affected by the Maoist problem the need for setting up such a force with that State had not been felt as there are no reports of frequent movement of Maoists between West Bengal and Bihar.

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