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Security forces move into Lalgarh

Raktima Bose

— Photo: Arunangsu Roy Chowdhury

On the third day of their operation, the West Bengal police, backed by the CRPF, reached Lalgarh. Here they enter the police station in the town.

LALGARH (WEST BENGAL): As Central paramilitary forces and the State Armed Police personnel marched into the Lalgarh police station here on Saturday — third day of the joint offensive against Maoists and the Maoist-backed Police Santrash Birodhi Janasadharoner Committee (PSBJC) — the first steps were taken towards restoring normality in an area declared out of bounds to the police by activists there more than seven months ago.

But violence continued to rage in the strife-torn region even as the security forces went about trying to reclaim Lalgarh from the clutches of the Maoists and their PSBJC associates.

Five police personnel were injured in a landmine blast triggered by the Maoists at Kadasol, about 22 km from here. After the blast, the Maoists opened fire on the Central forces that were advancing towards Ramgarh (17 km from here) from the Goaltore end and a gun battle ensued as the forces retaliated. Three Maoists were killed, the police claimed.

PSBJC members also burnt down an office of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) at Boita, 21 km from here.

The third day’s operation began at daybreak as six companies of CRPF jawans and a unit of the specialised Cobra commandos fanned out into the adjoining Jhitka forest. The operation was led by Praveen Kumar, Deputy Inspector-General of the Midnapore range.

An anti-landmine vehicle headed the convoy of the jawans to Lalgarh, a precautionary step following a landmine blast targeting a police vehicle on Friday.

The movement of the forces was slow, especially while passing through the four-km dense Jhitka forest, where there were incidents of attack on police personnel in the past. The forces entered Lalgarh around noon.

A CRPF jawan died of sunstroke while marching towards Lalgarh.

Addressing journalists here, Mr. Kumar said the delay in the operation to reach Lalgarh was a tactical approach.

“We understand the tactics of our enemy. The delay of three days is a sort of our tactics. The Maoists might have surprises for us, we have more surprises in store for them.”

Asserting that reaching up to here was one part of the story, he said their next step would involve “establishing the rule of law in the adjoining areas and ensuring the safety of the common people.”

On the issue of combating the Maoists who are adept at guerrilla war tactics, Mr. Kumar said: “We will deal with them with no restraints. Any Maoist operating in the area will be put behind bars.”

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