The security forces in West Bengal on Saturday succeeded in wresting the treacherous Goaltore-Ramgarh stretch from the Maoists providing them an alternative route to Lalgarh, currently under rebel control. The Maoist squads set fire to a party office of CPI in Ramgarh before fleeing the area.The forces fired mortar shells from shoulder-borne rocket-propelled guns to repulse Maoist resistance and ended their day’s march at Ramgarh, about 2.5 km away form Lalgarh police station where an operational base had been set up earlier. Significantly, the CoBRA force was kept on stand by during the operation.

There are several approach roads to Lalgarh in West Midnapore district, most of which are controlled by the Maoists. “We have reached Ramgarh today where a permanent camp will be set up. There was heavy exchange of

gunfire between Maoists and our forces, but they were repulsed. The Maoists have exploded two IED’s, but no one was injured.

Our forces detected and defused many others,” said Siddhinath Gupta, DIG CID (Operations).

The forces mounted a two-pronged attack on the core areas of Maoists influence - while one section of the forces moved from Kadasole (near Goaltore) in the north, another section moved from Lalgarh in the south towards Ramgarh and reached Pathordanga village — home of Chatradhar Mahato, the leader of the People’s Committee against Police Atrocities (PCPA). The security forces expect to trap some Maoists between Goaltore and Lalgarh.

At Ramgarh the security forces were welcomed by locals who offered water and thronged both sides of the roads as jawans and mediapersons walked by.

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