On Friday, when the security forces launched a fresh offensive against the Maoists in Lalgarh, the CPI (Maoists) rejected the state government’s call for laying down arms and resolved to carry on the fight ‘against the terrorist state’.

In a press statement, the outfit condemned the Centre’s decision to ban it and said: “The ban on the CPI (Maoist) will only expose the government further and embolden the people to take up greater responsibilities.”

The outfit alleged that the joint operations, led by the state government ‘in collusion with the Congress-led Central government’, had not been able to silence the protesting voices of those belonging to the ‘People’s Committee against Police Atrocities’ (PCPA).

“They (Maoists) are still gathering in large numbers to resist atrocities by the security forces,” it claimed.

Demanding revocation of the ban imposed on the CPI (Maoist), the statement condemned arrest of party spokesman Gour Chakraborty and said “the CPM has unmasked itself before the people after the electoral debacle.”

The state government, meanwhile, said operations would continue in Lalgarh.

“This is not a fight to capture land but an operation to restore law and order. Till this is achieved, along with restoration of the people’s confidence in the administration and curbing of terrorism, the combined force will continue the job,” Chief Secretary Asok Mohan Chakraborty told mediapersons.

He, however, declined to say if the security forces would advance further or how long the operations would take, but claimed the situation at Lalgarh was returning to normalcy.