PC visits Lalgarh, makes fresh talks offer

On his first visit to the heart of Naxal territory in West Bengal, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram ruled out the involvement of the military in anti-Maoist operations and made a fresh offer of dialogue with the left-wing extremists.

Visiting Lalgarh in West Midnapore district for an assessment of the situation and a review of the anti-Maoist drive, Chidamabaram also said during discussions with Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee in Kolkata, he had stated that the "buck stops" at the Chief Minister's table with regard to the law and order issue.

He termed the Naxals as "cowards" who are hiding in the forests and slammed them for using tribal group People's Committee against Police Atrocities (PCPA) as a front organisation. The PCPA has called a 24-hour bandh in West Midnapore, Purulia and Bankura districts in protest against the home minister's visit to the area.

"No, we are not contemplating military action against Naxals and state police, state armed police and paramilitary forces alone will be deployed to fight the Naxals," The union home minister told media-persons after an hour-long meeting with top police and administrative officials in Lalgarh.

"The Naxals are cowards. Why are they hiding in forests? We have invited them for talks (but) after they abjure violence. If they really want development, if they really want to solve problems of the people, they are welcome to talk. I have said we can talk about anything in the world. (They should) just give up violence," he said.

Expressing concern over the "direct or indirect" support to the Naxals by the PCPA, he said if they have a genuine problem, he was willing to lend his "good offices" for ensuring talks between them and the state government. Chidambaram said he has appealed to the villagers not to support the Maoists, which they were doing out of fear. "I appealed to them not to provide any moral or material support to the Naxalites who can do no development for the people," he said. Agreeing that the villagers had reasons to be aggrieved due to lack of development, Chidambaram said, "I told them Naxals are killing you and will continue to kill you and they have no place in the society."

Chidambaram, who flew in to Lalgarh by a helicopter from Kolkata, described as "mixed" the outcome of the joint anti- Maoist operations saying that certain "weaknesses" need to be rectified. He also said that intelligence reports suggested that Naxals were constantly regrouping to carry out low-intensity conflict and that there was a need for constant vigilance in the fight against them.

Chidambaram said that the anti-Naxal drive was a long-drawn affair in West Bengal and other states including Orissa and Jharkhand and it could take two to three years to defeat the extremists. "There are no instant answers," the home minister said.

Ruling out withdrawal of joint security forces from the Maoist-hit areas, Chidambaram asserted that the ani-Maoist operations would continue. "Will withdrawing the joint forces help? It is a long-drawn process and will take two to three years to complete. You have to be patient."

On his remark that buck stops at the Chief Minister's office, Chidamabaram said the Chief Minister should in turn ensure that the buck stops at the Superintendent of Police and Station House Officer's table. "If the buck does not stop, it is a failure of the administrative machinery."

Regarding the PCPA, the tribal platform being used by the Naxals, Chidambaram said it was formed on November 2, 2008 on the issue of police atrocities. "It came into existence over police atrocities. Why are they acting as a front organisation for Maoists? Why does the PCPA directly or indirectly support the Maoists?" he asked. "If they have any grievance, I am willing to use my good offices to arrange for talks with the state government. Atrocities or not, that can be discussed. But supporting Naxals is a grave mistake and disservice they are committing," the Home Minister said.

Earlier, Chidamabaram arrived by a BSF helicopter from Kolkata at 8:05 am and was driven in a bullet-proof car to the Lalgarh police station, barely 100 metre away from the heavily guarded helipad.

At the police station, Chidmabaram was closeted with top police and administrative officials for an hour.He was earlier received by District Magistrate N S Nigam, Superintendent of Police Manoj Verma and senior CRPF officials at the helipad. West Bengal Home Secretary Ardhendu Sen and DGP Bhupinder Singh were also present.

Chidambaram said that the anti-Naxal drive was a long-drawn affair in West Bengal and other states including Orissa and Jharkhand and it could take two to three years to defeat the extremists. "There are no instant answers," the Home Minister said. Ruling out withdrawal of joint security forces from the Maoist-hit areas, Chidambaram asserted that the ani-Maoist operations would continue.

"Will withdrawing the joint forces help? It is a long-drawn process and will take two to three years to complete. You have to be patient." On his remark that buck stops at the Chief Minister's office, Chidamabaram said the chief minister should in turn ensure that the buck stops at the Superintendent of Police and Station House Officer's table. "If the buck does not stop, it is a failure of the administrative machinery."

Earlier, Chidamabaram arrived by a Border Security Force helicopter from Kolkata at 0800 hrs and was driven in a bullet-proof car to the Lalgarh police station, barely 100 metre away from the heavily guarded helipad.

At the police station, Chidmabaram was closeted with top police and administrative officials for an hour. He was earlier received by District Magistrate N S Nigam, Superintendent of Police Manoj Verma and senior Central Reserve Police Force officials at the helipad. West Bengal Home Secretary Ardhendu Sen and DGP Bhupinder Singh were also present.

Referring to a media report claiming that top Maoist leader Kishenji was hale and hearty, the Home Minister said, "The police have told me that they don't buy the story that Kishenji has given the interview. The police, of course, can do more and find out."

Referring to PCPA, he said their jailed leader Chhatradar Mahato and his brother Asit Mahato "are doing a great disservice to the people by supporting the Naxals."

Chidambaram advised all political party leaders to visit Lalgarh and talk to the villagers. About dealing with the Maoist menace, he said, "It is a mixed record for West Bengal and the situation should improve.

"There have been some gains and some weaknesses in Bengal. The situation in Orissa and Jharkhand will take time and it is a problem," he said. The situation, however, has improved significantly at Gadchiroli in Maharashtra and in parts of Andhra Pradesh, he said.

Security was tight in Lalgarh and surrounding areas with gun-toting para-military forces visible on rooftops. Nearly 3,500 policemen have been deployed in the area, which was wrested from the Maoists by the joint forces in June 2009. Shops remained closed and one or two that did open were immediately ordered to down shutters by the security forces.

The 45 km Midnapore-Lalgarh road, particularly at Khadutola, once a stronghold of the Maoists, was guarded by para-military personnel in the midst of a bandh called by PCPA. Twenty preventive arrests were made from Jhitka jungle, Malbadi jungle and Lalgarh last night by the combined forces. No weapon was found on them, police sources said.

The Maoists had triggered a landmine explosion at Choto Brindabonpur village on Saturday. Chidambaram met West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee in Kolkata on Saturday night and was understood to have reviewed the situation in Maoist-hit areas, where the joint operations have achieved success in last few days, as also the future strategy.

Image:  Union Home Minister P Chidambaram leaves Lalgarh police station.

Photograph: Dipak Chakraborty