Bengal Left okays govt use of force in Lalgarh

West Bengal’s ruling Left Front has given the go-ahead to the state government to crack down against the Maoist rebels in the restive Lalgarh and its adjacent areas in West Midnapore district. The Maoists had taken control of Lalgarh after the police forces were withdrawn from that area on the face of social boycott by the local tribals led by the People’s Committee against Police Atrocities.

In the last one week, the Maoists have killed at least 10 CPI(M) workers, ransacked and torched a number of houses belonging to CPI(M) activists and party offices. The attack on the life and properties of CPI(M) workers continues unabated as three party workers were killed by the Maoists in Lodhashuli, Jhargram and four more houses were ransacked today in Lalgarh.

But the state government is willing to go slow with the operation as it has little or no local intelligence from the Maoists-infested area. According to a source, the government, in its first phase of operation, wants to restrict the Maoists in that area and take measures to protect the neighbouring areas like Garbeta and Shalboni from their infiltration. Since the police has been withdrawn from Lalgarh, it will take some time to build the information gathering network there. The central forces, of which five companies have already arrived in the state, will require some time to gather information before they can make any move in the area. So, the police action in Lalgarh will be taken in the second phase of the operation. Home Secretary Ardhendu Sen and state DGP Sujit Sarkar visited Midnapore today to assess the situation there.

The chief minister has briefed the CPI(M) secretariat and the Left Front leaders about the latest developments in Lalgarh, pointing out there were at least 500 Maoists present in Lalgarh. The rebels have consolidated their position in the area in the last four or five months by taking advantage of police inaction.