WB tribal unrest: Central force company arrives in Lalgarh

"The state government has sought five companies of Central forces for Lalgarh. One company has already arrived there to assist the police," Chief Secretary Asok Mohan Chakraborty said.

He said two to three companies would soon arrive. Admitting that the police were under pressure at Lalgarh, Chakraborty said, "Police at Lalgarh are under pressure but it cannot be said that they are demoralised."

He said though normal life was disrupted at Lalgarh the area had not turned into a 'free zone.'

The tribals and Maoists torched four police camps in Lalgarh on Monday after the police and Central Reserve Police Front left. Paramilitary forces tried to go to Lalgarh on Tuesday but were stopped 35 km away from Midnapore town.

District Magistrate N S Nigam said about 2,000 tribals stopped the forces and told them to return. Tribals also gathered at Goaltore, north of Lalgarh to march to Garbeta to bring the areas under their control.

At Midnapore, a high-level meeting was held to discuss the situation arising out of the agitation by the tribal organisation, People's Committee Against Police Atrocities, N S Nigam said.