West Bengal Governor M.K. Narayanan and Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee met in the Raj Bhavan here on Tuesday evening, at a time when countering Maoist violence in the State has never been more urgent.
The Governor was apprised of the steps being taken by the State to tackle the Maoists who have been particularly active in the south-western region of the State, spanning parts of Paschim Medinipur, Bankura and Purulia districts.
The 50-minute meeting came eight days after 24 personnel of the Eastern Frontier Rifles were killed in an attack on a camp at Silda in Paschim Medinipur.
A more intensive inter-State security offensive against the Maoists is on the cards. While expressing his deep anguish over the loss of lives in the attack at Silda, Mr. Narayanan, a former National Security Adviser, had shortly after the incident reiterated the State government’s commitment to deal with the problems in the belt where Maoists have been active.
He had also pointed out that restoration of normality in the region was essential for the socio-economic development of the local people even while expressing confidence that the government forces, with the help of the local population, would be able to “defeat the evil intentions” of the left-wing extremists.
Issues related to the steps being taken by the government towards this end were understood to have figured in the Governor’s talks with Mr. Bhattacharjee.
The Chief Minister, who constituted a three-member committee to inquire into the events leading to the Silda attack, admitted three days after the incident that initial reports suggested a lapse in security.
The committee will submit its report within two months.
