M A I N   N E W S

Maoist stronghold captured

Ramgarh (WB), June 27
Security forces today captured key Maoist stronghold of Ramgarh as they launched a two-pronged attack to reclaim areas in West Midnapore district under control of Left-wing ultras who offered stiff resistance by detonating landmines and opening gunfire.

Maoists also torched an office of the Leftist trade union AITUC when they were refused sanctuary in the building shortly before the security forces entered Ramgarh.

Security forces headed from Lalgarh in the south and Kadasole, which was secured yesterday, in the north towards Ramgarh this morning, a senior CRPF officer said.

"We have secured Ramgarh. We will establish a police outpost and a camp. The police will restore normalcy. The operations will continue," IG CID (Special Operations Group) Siddhinath Gupta said. Three landmines exploded as 10 companies comprising 1000 men of the CRPF, the India Reserve Battalion and Rapid Action force set out from Kadasole, braving heavy rains and reached Mohultol, with the Maoists also firing at them.

The security forces retaliated with AK-47s, mortars and rocket propelled grenade launchers overcoming the resistance swiftly, the officer said.

In the south, 11 CRPF companies comprising 1100 men reached Boropelia village, the home of the agitating People’s Committee Against Police Atrocities leader Chhatradhar Mahato.

They were attacked by Maoists at Pathardanga where two landmines were detected. But the naxals retreated after retaliatory action. People came out in droves to greet security forces as they arrived. The locals offered drinking water to the fatigued troops. — PTI

Gill denied visit to Lalgarh
Subhrangshu Gupta
Tribune News Service

Kolkata, June 27
Former Punjab DGP KPS Gill, presently the Prime Minister’s security adviser on the anti-terror, today was denied visit to Lalgarh. He had flown down to the city for studying the Maoists insurgency at Lalgarh and other places in the state. But the police did not allow him to visit Lalgarh.

Gill said he had been requested by the PMO for studying the Maoists insurgency problems in the state and accordingly, after returning to Delhi he was to submit a report to the PMO. Gill was in Punjab during the hot days of the terrorists activities and he had been credited for successfully tackling the terrorism in that state.

State Home Secretary A Sen, however, said there was no information either from the PMO or the Home Ministry about Gill’s visit to Lalgarh. And the government did not grant permission to him for visiting Lalgarh.

Meanwhile, the anti-Maoists action force today captured the Ramgarh police station without facing much resistance, though there were intermittent landmine attacks on the force from the Maoists side.

The operation was launched today around 8 am when the joint forces in four groups started moving into the jungle through four different sides for capturing the Ramgarh police station.