After giving a call to boycott the poilce, tribal agitators gave a 24-hour ultimatum to the force to vacate all its camps in Lalgarh and adjoining areas. A huge contingent of policemen is housed in makeshift camps in local schools and gram panchayat offices in the area.

State Home Secretary Ashok Mohan Chakrabarti, however, said, “Talks cannot be held at the gunpoint.”

On Wednesday, the Committee Against Police Atrocities, which is spearheading the agitation, held a meeting at Mokhhada Sundari High School in Ramgarh area of Lalgarh. “We have given 24 hours to the police to withdraw its personnel. The administration is underestimating our power. Our request for holding talks in the villages has been turned down,” said Lalmohan Tudu, president of the Committee. “If they do not leave the premises, we will intensify our agitation and force them to vacate the area,” said Chatradhar Mahato, leader of the committee. Agitators blocked more roads in Pirakata area.

The home secretary, meanwhile, said the state government is trying to convince the Centre to provide more funds for developmental projects in the area. “The Central government runs several tribal development schemes but West Bengal is not given adequate funds. We are trying to explain the gravity of the situation in tribal areas to the Centre so that they grant us more funds,” added Chakrabarti.

In a related development, Congress members led by Leader of the Legislative Party Manas Bhuniya, staged a day-long demonstration near Lalgarh police station.

“The crisis is purely a tribal issue. We will highlight their plight and the police atrocities through a massive rally on December 4 in Kolkata,” said Bhuniya.

... contd.