The Hindu : National : 13th day of offensive sees combing operation

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13th day of offensive sees combing operation

Raktima Bose

More companies of Central force expected; fresh offensive soon

LALGARH: Much of the 13th day of the offensive by paramilitary forces West Bengal police in Lalgarh and nearby areas was spent on combing operations against Maoists and activists of the Maoist-backed Police Santrash Birodhi Janashadharaner Committee (PSBJC).

There was no major movement of the forces from any of the three base camps — Lalgarh, Ramgarh and Kantapahari — that have been reclaimed from Maoists.

Security forces patrolled the area as part of confidence-building measures taken by the authorities.

IEDs detected

The forces detected two improvised explosive devices, one near the road that links Goaltore (20 km from Lalgarh) with Chandrakona, and the other near the Sijua forest. Both were defused by the bomb detection squad of the Criminal Investigation Department.

Top police and administrative officials held meetings at the Lalgarh police station to decide on the next course of action.

With more companies of Central forces expected to reach Lalgarh in a couple of days, a fresh offensive is expected to be launched shortly.

A senior police officer told The Hindu that there was a possibility of launching a drive to reclaim Dharampur, 12 km from Lalgarh, from Maoists.

With development being the top priority on the mind of the administration now, a team of eight secretaries of several departments of the State government are scheduled to arrive here on Wednesday.

The district administration opened a relief distribution centre at Kantapahari, and six kg of rice a person was distributed.

Thousands of people gathered at the Binpur I Block Development Office at Lalgarh since 6 a.m. to collect relief supplies.

UAPA not against Chhatradhar Mahato

Special Correspondent

reports:

Though the security forces stationed in the Lalgarh area are on the look-out for Chhatradhar Mahato, chief of the Maoist-backed Police Santrash Birodhi Janashadharaner Committee (PSBJC), the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act will not be enforced in the event of his being apprehended, as he is not an active member of the Communist Party of India (Maoist), deemed a banned outfit under the Act.

But Mr. Mahato will be placed under arrest in connection with several cases under the Indian Penal Code (IPC), said West Bengal Home Secretary, Ardhendhu Sen, here on Tuesday.

PSBJC eager for talks

Mr. Sen also said that the State government was not averse to holding talks with PSBJC leaders if the latter made an appeal in writing to district authorities and the government was satisfied with its reasons for seeking such a meeting.

Earlier in the day, Mr. Mahato had told a local television channel that the PSBJC was eager to hold talks with the government to help restore normality in the Lalgarh area.

The State government would also expect to be informed about who would represent the PSBJC in such a discussion. But there is no question of talks with the Maoists, Mr. Sen emphasised.

Mr. Sen, who will soon visit the Lalgarh area, said the Central paramilitary forces and the State Armed Police would remain stationed there. Additional companies of Central forces have also been sought.

In another development, it was decided that charges brought by the police under the UAPA against two suspected Maoists, arrested two days earlier, will be dropped.

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