The Centre is likely to continue with the joint forces deployed in the Maoist-dominated Lalgarh area in West Bengal, not bowing to the demand made by the Trinamool Congress, a constituent of the United Progressive Alliance government.
Trinamool Congress has been demanding that the joint forces be withdrawn as the ruling Left Front cadres and joint forces were “committing atrocities” in the name of tackling Maoists. However, the Centre considered it more of a “political statement” ahead of the Assembly elections in West Bengal.
“Right now we have no plans to withdraw the forces. They are doing their jobs and the anti-Naxal operations will continue,” sources in the Home Ministry said.
The issue was said to have figured in the meetings West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee had with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Home Minister P. Chidambaram over the past two days here. Mr. Bhattacharjee has been backing the joint operations launched by the Central and State forces in Maoist-dominated areas.
Trinamool Congress chief and Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee has often alleged that tribals were being subjected to atrocities by the Marxist cadres and joint forces in the name of tackling Maoists.
However, the Left Front hit back claiming that the Trinamool's repeated demand to pull out joint forces from the Lalgarh and Jangalmahal areas was a ploy to facilitate Maoist control in these areas of West Midnapore district.
The operation by the joint forces comprising the West Bengal Police and the Central paramilitary forces was started in Lalgarh in June last to flush out Maoists from the area. The three western districts of the State — Purulia, Bankura and West Midnapore — are Maoist-dominated.
