Rebeles getting help from locals

Admitting that Naxalites in forested areas of Paschim Medinipur district are getting help from locals, the West Bengal government today said the problem has to be tackled through intensified development work and not through police action only. "The Naxalites are getting local support. If the area is developed, the local people will dissociate themselves from the Naxalites.

The Naxalite problem cannot be tackled only with police action," state Home Secretary Ardhendu Sen said.

Police operations against Naxalites, however, will continue as they were expanding their area of operations, he told newsmen here before leaving for Medinipur town to attend Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee’s review meeting on the law and order and welfare measures in ‘junglemahal’ (forested areas).