Buddha to airdrop his appeal for Lalgarh

Meanwhile,a determined state government on Thursday said that it would not halt the operation to flush out Maoists from Lalgarh till the areas under the 18 police stations in the three districts of West Midnapore,Bankura and Purulia are free of ultras.

“The job is tough and it will get tougher day by day. The Maoists have said they would retaliate violently and we are ready for that,” said State Home Secretary Ardhendu Sen in Kolkata.

He also said that a helicopter has been kept ready to ferry those injured in the operation.

Sen expressed doubt over the identity of the person who had held a press conference with an assault rifle hanging from his shoulders at Lalgarh on June 15.

The home secretary said Maoist leader Bikash was actually Shashadhar Mahato,brother of Chhatradhar Mahato,leader of the People’s Committee against Police Atrocities.

“We have heard about it but this is not confirmed news,” Sen said. He also said that the government would not hesitate to arrest both of them when they are found.

Meanwhile,chief secretary Asok Mohan Chakrabarti said that the doors of the state government were open for talks. “We are open for talks anytime,” Chakrabarti said.

THE APPEAL
Do not fall into a trap. A gang of armed so-called ‘Maoists’ has infiltrated the area. They are using innocent men,women and children as shield and are indulging in crimes of killing and arson. Please discuss your problems with the state government. Solutions can be found only through talks. Please cooperate with the state government to restore peace and normalcy in the area

Residents,mostly non-tribals,flee from Sarenga
As the central paramilitary forces started preparing to enter Lalgarh,people from neighbouring villages in Bankura district began to flee the area on Thursday.

Residents of Makarkol,Kayra,Majuria,Belabal and Bejdanga villages that fall under Sarenga police station left their homes in anticipation of more violence in the area once the paramilitary forces enter Lalgarh.

Superintendent of Police (Bankura) Vishal Garg said that since Dharampur and the disturbed area of Lalgarh are not far away from these villages,the villagers were probably afraid. “The police are maintaining a strong vigil along the Bankura-West Midnapore border so that the Maoists cannot enter Bankura,” he said.

CPM’s Bankura district committee secretary,Amiya Patra said residents,mostly non-tribals,have decided not to stay and instead take shelter elsewhere.

Garg,meanwhile,said he was in constant touch with his West Midnapore and Purulia counterparts ever since tension broke out at Lalgarh. Maoists have been operating in Bankura’s Sarenga,Barikul,Ranibandh and Raipur police station areas,which are located along the West Midnapore and Purulia border.