'Bengal sent back central forces'

West Bengal sent back four companies of BSF and four companies of additional paramilitary forces in violence-hit Basirhat, Union Home Ministry sources said on Saturday, refuting West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's allegations that the centre was not cooperating with her government.

"Four BSF companies were sent to Basirhat earlier and four additional companies which were sent two days back were sent back by state government," a source said.

Referring to Gorkhaland agitation in Darjeeling, the sources said: "Now the West Bengal Chief Minister was saying that (paramilitary) companies were not sent. So far as Darjeeling is concerned, 11 companies have been deployed, one women company and now they want us to withdraw.

"Their own East Bengal Rifles and Bengal Armed Police - several battalions are there. Why are they not deploying them instead of blaming the centre?"

The Home Ministry's response came soon after Banerjee claimed that timely deployment of the central reserve forces in the hills could have prevented the crisis in Darjeeling.

Earlier in the day, while addressing a press conference Banerjee criticised the central government for "non-cooperation" with the state.

She also alleged that foreign forces close to the Bharatiya Janata Party had a hand in the pro-Gorkhaland agitation and that the trouble in Darjeeling was "pre-planned" and "planted".

--IANS

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