All is not lost in Lalgarh,operations to go on: Buddha

The state government had deployed joint forces in the area on June 18 to flush out Maoists from the area. But after initial success,the forces were not able to curb the killings perpetrated by the Naxals. Last week,state Home Secretary Ardhendu Sen had publicly admitted that the operation has failed to meet the expected result.

Earlier in the day,Bhattacharjee said development projects for tribals in the area would continue. The state government has identified the loopholes and has decided to emphasize on carrying out development work in health,public distribution system and education,he said.

With the district receiving scanty rain this year,Bhattacharjee said the irrigation department would expedite implementation of irrigation projects of Kangsabati and Keleghai. The chief minister also expressed his displeasure over setting up of police camps in the school campus. Bhattacharjee had asked the district administration to shut down police camps that were set up in four schools at Debra.

“It is not fair that schools would be closed during my visit to Debra,” he said.

CM faces black flags welcome at Debra
Midnapore: Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee on Tuesday faced a black-flag demonstration by Youth Congress supporters at Debra. The Youth Congress workers waved black flags as the Chief Minister’s convoy was passing through the town,police said. The demonstration was part of several protests carried out by the Opposition against the ruling CPM. Meanwhile,stringent security measures had been taken for the chief minister’s visit. Inspector General of Police (South Bengal) Kuldip Singh said that 2,500 policemen were deployed for the chief minister’s visit. The stringent measures had been taken in view of the November 2 mine blast by Maoists on the chief minister’s convoy at Salboni,which he and then union ministers Ram Vilas Paswan and Jitindra Prasad had escaped narrowly.