Two months and 2,000 forces later, the operation to clear Lalgarh of Maoists has officially “failed”. The state administration has admitted that they have not been able to flush out armed cadres from the 50 sq km area, though the government insists it is neither wavering in its resolve nor in a hurry to pull out any men. While the government admission came last week, on the ground, the signs that Lalgarh has again slipped out of control have been visible for some time. The cadres are back operating with impunity in villages, targeting and killing CPM men, and enforcing their writ. The Indian Express explores what went wrong, how and why:

Buddhadeb on defensive
Since the Nandigram massacre and its political fallout, Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee has been shy of taking strong action against any political group even if it posed a serious threat to law and order. According to official sources, top police officials have been “unofficially” asked to restrain from opening fire — even for a lathicharge consent has to be sought from the Writers’ Building. Not surprisingly, the effect showed in the Operation Lalgarh as well, with a demoralised police force thinking twice before any tough move.

So, they evacuated the Lalgarh police station, never tried to enter Lalgarh villages, and refused to arrest people with criminal records. Even though the operation in Lalgarh is joint — with 17 companies of Central and state forces each — the government attitude remained the same. As a result, armed Maoist cadres never felt a threat. At least 12 people have been killed and three cases of abductions have been registered since the June 20 operation began.

... contd.