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Centre backs appeal for talks with Maoists

Vinay Kumar

Operation launched in Lalgarh by police and paramilitary forces will take time, says Chidambaram

— Photos: Arunangsu Roy Chowdhury

Countering a threat: West Bengal police personnel taking positions at Pindrakhali near Lalgarh after some journalists were stopped and threatened by PCPA supporters and Maoist activists (below) on Friday.

NEW DELHI: The Centre on Friday endorsed the appeal of West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee to Maoists and tribals in violence-ridden Lalgarh area to lay down arms and come for talks.

Home Minister P. Chidambaram said, “If they wish to talk, they should come forward to do so. We will be happy to facilitate the talks.” He was talking to journalists after a meeting of the Union Cabinet here.

He said the ongoing operations, launched in Lalgarh area by the State police and the paramilitary forces, would take more time. “Progress will be slow. They [forces] are making progress. So far, the operation is going according to plans, but they must be prepared for the unexpected. I sincerely hope that with the kind of action we have advised, the operation will be successful.”

“An operation of this kind will take some time. In fact, it will take considerably more time than was anticipated,” the Minister said.

Mr. Chidambaram said the forces were “moving, and moving cautiously” and the ongoing operation was not against tribals but only against the naxalites. Adequate number of police personnel had been deployed. The police were taking the lead and the CRPF was assisting them.

Asked whether the security forces could expand their operations to adjoining Bankura and Purulia districts, he said since both districts were near Lalgarh, the ongoing operations “could take them to Bankura and Purulia too.”

Asked why the CPI(Maoist) was not banned by the West Bengal government, as was done in other States, Mr. Chidambaram said the issue was pending with the State government. “There are voices in Bengal which have raised the demand for a ban. We think they should be banned as in other States.”

CCTNS project

Mr. Chidambaram said the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs cleared a Rs. 2,000-crore project for interlinking all police stations through Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS).

The Information Technology-enabled project proposal aims at creating a comprehensive and integrated system for enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of policing at the police station level by adopting principles of e-governance, he said.

Streamlining the investigation and prosecution processes, strengthening the intelligence gathering machinery, improving the public delivery system, citizen-friendly interface and nationwide sharing of information on crime and criminals were the objectives of the project.

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Trouble in Lalgarh - in pics

Problem at Lalgarh spreading: official

“PSBJC will accept democratic forces’ support”

Tribals hold rally in Lalgarh

Lalgarh situation worsens

3 bodies recovered from Lalgarh

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