West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who had given a call to Maoists in Junglemahal to lay down arms and hold talks, on Friday issued a stern warning to the ultras saying the peace initiative should not be mistaken for weakness.
“For the last four months joint security force operations have been suspended (in junglemahal) and the government is carrying on the peace initiative unilaterally, but our patience should not be mistaken for weakness,” Ms. Banerjee said in an interview to a TV channel here.
With Trinamool Congress worker Jeetu Singh Sardar of Ghatbera village in Purulia district being the latest victim of the Maoists, the Chief Minister said, “Some people believe in bloodshed.”
“If this continues then we will have to take measures because the rule of the law should prevail,” she said.
She also alleged that CPI(M) ‘harmads’ (armed cadre) were hand in glove with Maoists in perpetrating violence, killing and atrocities.
“I will not tolerate this and have told the police to be strict and, if needed, to take action,” she said.
Ms. Banerjee claimed that Maoists were finding support from some political leaders and academicians in Kolkata.
“Some political leaders of Behala and some professors of Jadavpur University are providing support to Maoists and spreading rumours against the government,” she alleged.
She said that a former superintendent of police in a Maoist-hit area “under whose leadership CPI(M) cadres conducted operations”, was not being given a posting for the last four months.
She said she was willing to take any step to end bloodshed and establish peace in Junglemahal.
