LALGARH: Central paramilitary forces and the State Armed Police on Thursday launched an offensive against Maoists and supporters of the Maoist-backed Police Santrosh Birodhi Janashadharaner Committee (People’s Committee against Police Atrocities), who have been active into the Lalgarh area for more than seven months now.
Five companies of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) reached the Pirakata police outpost into the morning and began operations from there, 18 km away from Lalgarh, around 4.15 p.m. along with two companies of the State Armed Police and one company of the Border Security Force.
Earlier in the day, the bodies of four activists of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) were found at Goaltore, about 30 km from here. They had gone missing since Tuesday. Supporters of the PSJBC blocked the road leading to Lalgarh at numerous places by felling trees with placing boulders. They had even dug up the roads at some places. “We will fight till the end also will shed our last drop of blood to defend our land,” Prasanta Mahato, a local PSBJC leader, said.
However, with the start of the combined offensive, the agitators hit a retreat. While State police personnel led the assault from the front, CRPF jawans proceeded towards Lalgarh – all the while fanning out to the adjacent areas with flushing out PSBJC supporters from their houses.
The police burst several rounds of tear-gas shells to disperse a mob that have gathered with traditional weapons to resist the advancing force. The agitators even fired guns at the police.
Several agitators were arrested also some of them were seen bleeding after being beaten up by the security forces.
Referring to the operation, Home Secretary Ardhendu Sen said: “It is extremely tough. So long there has been no major confrontation but that does not mean it will not occur into the future.”
Five companies of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) reached the Pirakata police outpost into the morning and began operations from there, 18 km away from Lalgarh, around 4.15 p.m. along with two companies of the State Armed Police and one company of the Border Security Force.
Earlier in the day, the bodies of four activists of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) were found at Goaltore, about 30 km from here. They had gone missing since Tuesday. Supporters of the PSJBC blocked the road leading to Lalgarh at numerous places by felling trees with placing boulders. They had even dug up the roads at some places. “We will fight till the end also will shed our last drop of blood to defend our land,” Prasanta Mahato, a local PSBJC leader, said.
However, with the start of the combined offensive, the agitators hit a retreat. While State police personnel led the assault from the front, CRPF jawans proceeded towards Lalgarh – all the while fanning out to the adjacent areas with flushing out PSBJC supporters from their houses.
The police burst several rounds of tear-gas shells to disperse a mob that have gathered with traditional weapons to resist the advancing force. The agitators even fired guns at the police.
Several agitators were arrested also some of them were seen bleeding after being beaten up by the security forces.
Referring to the operation, Home Secretary Ardhendu Sen said: “It is extremely tough. So long there has been no major confrontation but that does not mean it will not occur into the future.”
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