Security forces begin operation, Maoists trigger mine blast

Amitava Roy

Lalgarh, (WB), June 26 (PTI) Five days after gaining
control of the key Lalgarh police station, the security forces
Friday launched a fresh offensive to drive out the Maoists
from the area even as the naxals triggered a landmine blast in
a bid to stall the movement of the troops.

The Central and state security forces started the
operation at 0800 hours IST from Gaoltore, about 20 kms from
Lalgarh in West Midnapore district in India's eastern state
West Bengal, and were moving towards Ramgarh after crossing
Pingboni.

The forces, armed with mine detection gear, were
taking control of Maoist-held forest areas and adjacent fields
and planned to sanitise the stretch from Pingboni to Ramgarh,
a distance of 11-12 kms, IGP (Law and Order) Raj Kanojia said.

Even as the troops pushed ahead, Maoists triggered a
landmine blast near a forest at Kadasole, four kms from
Pingboni, after which gunshots were heard by a PTI
correspondent in the conflict zone. No one was injured in the
explosion.

Two landmines were found by the bomb disposal squad of
the CID near a bridge next to a metalled road near Kadasole,
police said, adding that efforts were on to defuse the them.
The forces include units from CRPF and India Reserve Battalion
besides personnel from the state police.

The joint forces had on June 20 taken control of the
Lalgarh police station which had remained out of bounds for
the police since November last year.

Tribals, backed by Maoists, have been protesting
against alleged police excesses on villagers after a landmine
blast at Salboni which West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb
Bhattacharjee and two Union ministers narrowly escaped on
November two, last year.

The forces, since retaking control of Lalgarh police
station, have been concentrating on fortifying their position
with fresh reinforcements. Security personnel were stationed
at Goaltore from where they intended give a final push to the
ultras. PTI