On the fifth day of Operation Lalgarh when ground zero and its adjoining areas were completely hit by the two-day bandh called by the Maoists, the security forces did not make any forward movement.

While the Centre said the security forces had consolidated their position against the Maoists and would resume the operation very soon to flush out the Naxals, DIG (Midnapore range) Praveen Kumar claimed “we are trying to connect with them (villagers) in a friendly manner, gain their confidence”.

“The forces also require rest. As you are aware that one CRPF jawan died due to exhaustion, I think the decision to take rest is made to consolidate their tactical position. Operation will resume at an appropriate time and operation will continue in the entire area to clear the Maoists,” Union Home Minister P Chidambaram told reporters in New Delhi.

However, Jhargram ASP (operation) Murulidhar said the operation of the combined forces was on. “We are conducting the operation steadily, but slowly. It’s a part of our strategy,” he added.

An officer of the district intelligence branch, requesting anonymity, said the combined forces would not march forward from their base camps in the next two days. They would rather patrol the areas adjacent to their camps.

The DIG (Midnapore range), who held a meeting with CRPF officers, said all the forces were performing their duties with sincerity and cautiously, and claimed the security forces were trying to gain confidence of the villagers. “We are trying to connect with them in a friendly manner, gain their confidence. Let them have confidence in us,” he added.

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