Trinamool MP hits on WB police over train tragedy

May 31, 2010 By Leave a Comment

The Trinamool Congress hit out at the West Bengal police over the Gyaneswari Express derailment, which claimed 148 lives, with a party MP saying he did not believe in the DGP’s statement holding the Maoists responsible for the train tragedy.

Asked to comment on the DGP Bhupinder Singh’s statement that Maoists were behind the mishap, party MP Kalyan Banerjee told a TV channel “the DGP is a very foolish person. I don’t believe in his statement at all.”

Banerjee claimed the CBI was being asked to inquire into the disaster. “Unless and until the probe is complete any comment on it would be premature and a foolish opinion,” Banerjee, also a senior lawyer, he said.

The DGP could not be contacted for his comments.

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Maoist leader Kishanji reported injured in West Bengal forest gun battle

March 27, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Kolkata, Mar 27 (ANI): Maoist leader Kishanji may have been injured in a gun battle between security forces and the rebels inside the Lakhanpur forest in West Bengal”s Paschim Medinipur District.

“Kishanji is suspected to have been seriously injured during the seven-hour-long gun-battle between security forces and the rebels, and is believed to be undergoing treatment at a secret location in the district by local quacks,” quoted The Hindu.

It has been reported that during the exchange of fire the rebels suffered heavy casualties and the police suspect the casualty figure to be at least ten.

The West Bengal Police has refused to comment on whether Kishanji was injured, but the State”s Director General of Police (DGP) Bhupinder Singh, has said there was a possibility of a top Maoist leader being present at the gun battle site.

“It is suspected that several of those rebels injured in the firing have succumbed to their injuries.” There was also a report that a student of the city-based Jadavpur University was one of the Maoists killed in the exchange of fire,” Singh, adding there was no confirmation.

Based on inputs from several channels of information, including the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Intelligence Branch of Andhra Pradesh, The Hindu reports that Kishanji might have “suffered serious bullet injuries, if not killed.”

It has been reported that the Maoists started firing more heavily than as they moved away from the area, the tactic used by the rebels to shift the bodies of their slain comrades so that the police cannot recover them. (ANI)

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Security forces succeeding in curbing militancy in North East

March 25, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Siliguri (West Bengal), Mar 25 (ANI): Security personnel who were engaged in countering terrorism in the North East, are gaining the upper hand day by day.

The success of the anti terror operations is restoring confidence in the public.

In one such success, recently security forces, recently arrested the commander-in-chief of the banned Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL), Ningthoujam Tomba and three others from West Bengal’s Siliguri.

Formed in 1995, the KYKL is one of the most active terrorist outfits in Manipur and presently has over 300 members.

The arrest is the result of extensive combined search operation conducted by the West Bengal Police and the Imphal East Commandos.

After receiving information about the whereabouts of some cadres of a proscribed Manipur-based militant group, the KYKL in Siliguri, a team of Imphal Police along with West Bengal Police apprehended Tomba.

Tomba was wanted in over 50 cases.

Police said all the four were trying to escape to Nepal.

One satellite phone, a laptop, six mobile phones and a number of documents have been recovered from arrested militant leader.

According to West Bengal Police, Tomba’s interrogation revealed that he had visited three countries in last one year to collect funds for organisation.

“We have already informed Manipur Police. Many cases have been filed and remained pending against the arrested person. Some members of the organization are functioning outside the state while other are engaged within the state.” Debendra Pratap Singh, SP, Darjeeling District.

A local court has sent Tomba and his three associates to 10 days police custody. (ANI)

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Maoists abduct school headmaster in West Bengal

March 6, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Bankura (West Bengal), Mar 6 (ANI): The Maoists struck again by kidnapping a school headmaster in West Bengal’s Bankura District on Friday late evening and threatened to kill him if the State Government failed to release six villagers arrested after police officer Rabi Lochan Mitra’s murder.

On Friday evening, the armed Maoists barged into Shibram Satpathy School in Sarulia village of the District and went around searching for its headmaster Ranjit Duley.

Duley came out and confronted them.

The Maoists pointed their guns at Duley and asked him to come along.

It was reported that the Maoists ‘tried’ him at a Kangaroo Court deep inside the Amlachuti Forest area.

Bankura Superintendent of Police Vishal Garg said that the investigation is on.

“We have started investigation. Not much information has been received so far,” Garg said.

The incident occurred just days after Maoist leader Koteshwar Rao’s right hand man Telugu Deepak was arrested by the West Bengal Police.

Koteshwar Rao also served a 48-hour ultimatum for Duley’s release.

It was reported that the People’s Committee against Police Atrocities (PCPA) leader Sidhu Soren, also made the same demand.

Soren also claimed that kidnapping was done by an outfit called Sidhu Kanu Grnamilitia, which appears to be a Maoist front organization.

Police suspect that Duley’s abduction has a revenge motive for the encounter of the suspected Maoist Jagannath Duley. (ANI)

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Final assault in Lalgarh faces demonstrations against operations

June 30, 2009 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, June 30 (ANI): Police here on Tuesday detained several protestors demonstrating against the paramilitary forces’ operations against Maoists in West Bengal.

Activists of the Revolutionary Democratic Front (RDF) and the Naujawan Bharat Sabha (NBS) held banners, placards and raised slogans against the Communist Party of India (Marxist) Government of West Bengal for deployment of security personnel against the Maoists.

Protesters demanded immediate withdrawal of the Border Security Force (BSF), the Assam Rifles, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), the Commando Battalion for Retaliate Action (COBRA) and other elite paramilitary forces along with the West Bengal police from Lalgarh town in West Midnapore district, which was recently captured by the Maoist rebels.

“We oppose the state terror that is going on in Lalgarh and atrocities are being done on tribals. Lalgarh’s cause is a public issue. This protest will continue and no state terror can stop it,” said an unidentified protester.

Protesters also demanded that alleged harassment of women and children in Lalgarh should immediately be stopped.

Paramilitary forces began their final assault on a Maoist stronghold, Katapahari region in West Bengal on Monday.

Earlier this week, the Central Government banned and formally labelled the Maoist insurgents as a terrorist group, hoping it would give security forces more enforcement powers after the rebels briefly created a “liberated zone” in West Bengal.

The move allows authorities to arrest members of the Maoist party even if they have not been involved in rebel violence. (ANI)

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West Bengal Govt. against indiscriminate use of UAPA

June 29, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Kolkata, June 29 (ANI): West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee has told his Cabinet colleagues that his government would not indiscriminately use the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, under which the Centre banned the Communist Party of India (Maoists).

PWD Minister Khiti Goswami has quoted Buddhadeb as saying at a meeting of the Cabinet Core Committee formed to tackle the Maoists problem in the state.

Goswami told media that the Chief Minister also informed the Committee that the joint forces operating against the Maoists in Lalgarh and its surrounding areas in West Midnapore District have been able to liberate nearly 95 percent of the areas under Maoists’ control without bloodshed and any major encounters.

On Monday, security forces, however, took control of Katapahari in Lalgarh without much resistance from either the Maoists or the Peoples’ Committee.

However, there was a landmine blast in the area and six landmines were detected during the operations of the joint forces of the West Bengal police and Central para-military forces. (ANI)

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Chidambaram asks politicians not to visit “sensitive and tense” Lalgarh

June 21, 2009 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, June 21 (ANI): Union Home Minister P Chidambaram has cautioned all the politicians from visiting West Bengal’s Lalgarh area, where security forces are fighting to clear a Maoist siege, as it is “sensitive” and “tense”.

“The situation in Lalgarh is sensitive and continues to be tense. I appeal to all citizens especially political leaders, NGOs and others not to go to the conflict areas,” he said while referring to a maoist call for a two-day shutdown from Monday in five naxal-affected states of Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa and West Bengal.

Chidambaram said the security forces must carry out their work without “distraction”.

On Sunday, personnel of the CRPF, BSF and West Bengal police started moving from Lalgarh to Ramgarh in an operation aimed at sanitising the main road and other connecting routes and wresting control of the 17 villages.

According to sources, the 19-km journey from Lalgarh, which the troops reclaimed on Saturday, is likely to be one of the toughest as the road has been mined.

The strategy of the forces will focus on wresting control of Barapelia, Chotopelia and Dalilpurchak in West Midnapore district where top Maoist leaders were reportedly holed up.

Meanwhile, in view of the two-day bandh call given by the CPI-Maoist, the Centre has asked five Naxal-hit states to remain alert against possible “demonstrative acts of violence” by left-wing extremists. (ANI)

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Troops advance from Lalgarh toward Maoist-held villages

June 21, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Lalgarh (WB), June 21(ANI): Personnel of the CRPF, BSF and West Bengal police on Sunday started moving from Lalgarh to Ramgarh in an operation aimed at sanitising the main road and other connecting routes and wresting control of the 17 villages.

According to sources, the 19-km journey from Lalgarh, which the troops reclaimed on Saturday, is likely to be one of the toughest as the road has been mined.

The strategy of the forces will focus on wresting control of Barapelia, Chotopelia and Dalilpurchak in West Midnapore district where top Maoist leaders were reportedly holed up.

Barapelia is the home of Maoist-backed People’s Committee against Police Atrocity (PCPA) convener Chatradhar Mahato and the PCPA headquarters.

Security forces had yesterday moved into Lalgarh and taken control of the police station even as ambushed a convoy en route to the area injuring six policemen.

According to DIG, Midnapore range, Praveen Kumar, they have regained control of Lalgarh, which was captured by Maoist rebels in one of the most brazen attacks in recent years.

Earlier, hundreds of Maoists, who were expanding their influence across the country, had chased away police and killed government supporters from around Lalgarh, which they declared a “liberated zone”. (ANI)

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Chidambaram asks Maoists to lay down arms

June 20, 2009 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, June 19 (ANI): Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram today asked the Maoists to lay down arms and come forward for negotiations.

Talking to reporters here, Chidambaram assured that the Centre shall facilitate their talks with the West Bengal government.

“The state government is in regular touch with the Centre and the West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday,” he added.

He said the operation in Lalgarh was not aimed at local tribals but at the Naxals who have taken control of the area.

“The action against the Maoists were going on according to the plan and it would be successful soon,” he added.

He further said that the operation would continue for some more time.

“The West Bengal police forces were in adequate number and they should lead the operation from the front as they are doing. The CRPF will assist them,” he added.

Earlier, the West Bengal Police supported by Central Paramilitary forces launched “Operation Lalgarh” to clear the areas in and around Lalgarh from Maoist captivity in West Midnapore district.

The troops were halted from crossing the Jhatika forest beyond Pirrakula last night, as the area was not cleared of the landmines. Anti- landmine vehicles were deployed in operation and the forces now are heading towards the ground zero.

According to sources, the march of security forces faced a stiff resistance by “human wall” in Malida, consisting of hundreds of tribal carrying traditional weapons like bows, arrows and shouting pro-Maoist slogans. (ANI)

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West Bengal villagers caught between security forces and Maoists

June 20, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Pirakata (West Benagal) June 19 (ANI): Fear stalks the villagers trapped in the exchange of fire between the security forces and the Maoist rebels who declared Lalgarh region of West Bengal ‘liberated zone’.

The gun battle between the paramilitary troops and the Maoists caused unease amongst the residents of Pirakata village, 18 kilometres from Lalgarh, and from where the security personnel launched their operation against the rebels.

For the villagers who are quite unaccustomed to such circumstances, the situation is very frightening.

“In our village the paramilitary forces are engaged in a clash with the Maoists and the exchange of fire has been taking place. Such incidents never took place in our village,” said Asoke Bharti, a villager.

“How are we going to cope with it? If the situation remains like this, then how will we venture out of our homes? Our lives are at stake. They (the Maoists) have been forcing people at night to join them. If we refuse, they beat us, what are we going to do?” Bharti added.

On Friday, the West Bengal Police supported by central paramilitary forces initiated the operation to flush out Maoists from Lalgarh.

According to sources, the central government has rushed five companies of the CRPF and three companies of the BSF. The Cobra force, which is trained to fight the Maoists, has been kept on alert. (ANI)

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Operation Lalgarh: Forces face tough resistance

June 20, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Lalgarh (West Bengal) June 19(ANI): The West Bengal Police supported by Central Paramilitary forces launched “operation Lalgarh” to clear the areas in and around Lalgarh from Maoist captivity in West Midnapore district.

The security forces are facing tough time in clearing the human shields, consisting of women and children put up by ultras on the way leading to Lalgarh.

The troops were halted from crossing the Jhatika forest beyond Pirrakula last night, as the area was not cleared from the landmines. As the anti landmine vehicles were deployed in operation the forces now are heading towards the ground zero.

According to sources, the march of security forces faced a stiff resistance by “human wall” in Malida, consisting of hundreds of tribal carrying traditional weapons like bows, arrows and shouting pro-Maoist slogans.

Two tribal and a cameraperson were injured in the clash. The Police used baton charging and tear gas shell to chase away the mob. Later they also raided few houses.

There were also reports of clashes between security personnel and Maoists from Doima, Raj Kanojia, and Bankura.

West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee ruled out negotiations with Maoists, unless until they shed the violence. But he said talks could be held with tribals.

The West Bengal Chief Minister has said his government is considering launching similar operations in other affected districts of Bankura and Purulia to clear them from rebels.

Meanwhile, Maoist leader Kishanji called for a 48 hour shut down starting from Monday in West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Bihar. (ANI)

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A militant suspected of attacking Bangladesh PM arrested in Kolkata

April 14, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Kolkata, Apr 14 (ANI): West Bengal Police in Kolkata arrested a mastermind of a militant outfit, Harkat-ul-Jihadi-Islami (HuJI), and suspected to have been involved in the grenade attack on Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Officials of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) arrested a man identified as Mufti Ibrahim, alleged to have been the person behind the attacks on Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 2000 and 2004 in Dhaka.
“Ibrahim is wanted in three cases in Bangladesh. One case relates to the incident of planting a bomb at a rally in 2000. And two other cases relate to the incident of throwing grenades in 2004 in a rally of Awami League. And apart from that hes having connection with HuJI,” said Siddhinath Gupta, Deputy Inspector General of Police, CID.

According to the investigation, Ibrahim’s name figured in the list of 95 most wanted people that Dhaka had handed over to Delhi last year.

He has been charged under the Foreigner’s Act since he had no passport or other valid documents to stay in India.

The Bangladeshi group has been blamed for series of attacks in the past including the 2004 bombing of a political rally addressed by Sheikh Hasina and later an attack on Bangladeshi born British High Commissioner Anwar Chowdhury. (ANI)

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Buddha’s ‘attackers’ may go free

April 11, 2009 By Leave a Comment

The West Bengal police admitted before a court that they had no evidence against the seven people arrested for involvement in the blasts in Salboni in West Midnapore district on November 2, 2008 that ripped off a vehicle in Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee’s convoy. The CPI (Maoist) state secretary had claimed responsibility for the blasts that had injured seven security personnel and a police driver.

The arrests had triggered a tribal movement against alleged police atrocities on women and children. Thousands of tribals had taken to the streets and cut off all communication by blocking roads with tree trunks.

The police have also pleaded for discharge of the accused. Of them, two were school students and one a dropout.

It was on November 15 that the police first admitted that the arrested persons were innocent. The final admission, along with the plea for discharge of the suspects – now out on bail – came on April 6.

Union Steel Minister Ram Vilas Paswan and Bhattacharjee had gone to Salboni to lay the foundation stone of a steel plant.

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BCCI sends a revised IPL schedule to Home Ministry

March 5, 2009 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, Mar 5 (ANI): The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) sent a revised schedule for the second session of Indian Premier League (IPL) to the Union Home Ministry on Thursday.

According to sources, the new schedule starts from April 10 and ends on May 24.

“We have taken care to ensure that host cities are not allotted a match two days before and after the polling day. We have submitted the schedule to the Home Ministry. It is up to them now to advice us,” a top IPL source said.

The organisers are not in favour of postponing the tournament as it may lead to massive financial losses for franchise owners and tournament organisers.

Earlier, the Home Ministry had urged the IPL to alter the dates as they were clashing with the election schedule.

Security for players during the tournament has assumed significance after Tuesday’s terror attacks on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore.

The Ministry had earlier requested the Directors General of Police of all host states to provide additional security because private security could not complete the requirement.

Police also maintained that they can provide extra cover to the players, provided the tournament dates are extended.

The second edition of 20-over cricket matches will take place in Jaipur, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, Chandigarh, Delhi and two other venues, which are yet to be decided.

Both West Bengal Police and Delhi police are in support of the extension of match dates.

On the other hand, polls in Delhi are scheduled on May 7 and the IPL matches are on May 5, 11, 14 and 16.

Maharashtra votes on April 16, 23 and 30 while the IPL matches will be played on April 12, 17, 19, 24, 28 and May 2.

Voting in Karnataka is on April 23 and 30 while IPL matches are on April 14, 19, 23 and May 3.

More than 21 lakh security personnel will be pressed into service during the upcoming General Elections. (ANI)

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