Security forces consolidate grip over naxal-hit West Midnapore

Saibal Gupta

Kantapahari (West Bengal), June 29(PTI) Further
consolidating their position in the Maoist-infested areas of
India's eastern state of West Bengal's West Midnapore
district, central forces on Monday stormed Kantapahari, the
hub of the naxal-backed tribal agitation.

Completing one third of the operations, 1,600
personnel from the Border Security Force (BSF), Central
Reserve Police Force(CRPF) and special anti-naxal force
Combat Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) converged on the
hamlet from Lalgarh and Ramgarh which were captured by
paramilitary forces after remaining under control of the
Maoists for eight months.

A helicopter hovered in the air to spot the Maoists
and help the personnel carry out their operation with
precision.

DIG Crime Investigating Department (CID) (Special
Operations Group), Siddhinath Gupta said that the forces were
now in Kantapahari, where a police camp existed in 2005 before
being withdrawn.

"A camp will be established here after all these
years," he said.

DIG (Midanpore range) Praveen Kumar said the
operations had not ended.

"Entering Kantapahari was part of it."
A senior police officer, however, told PTI that one
third of the operations were complete.

Midnapore district police superintendent Manoj Verma
said "There was no police in Kantapahari for the past several
months. People have come forward to cooperate. We hope this
cooperation will continue. We will establish the rule of law
to solve the problem that has been plaguing this area for
several months."

Kantapahari, besides the surrounding villages of
Boropelia, Chottopelia and Dalilpur Chowk, were the places
where the tribals backed by Maoists had launched their
agitation in protest against police atrocities in November
last year.

Security forces recently reclaimed Lalgarh police
station from Maoist control. PTI SAG
ANU