Midnapore (WB), June 28
As security forces consolidated their positions a day after reclaiming key Maoist stronghold of Ramgarh, the group spearheading the tribal agitation in West Midnapore district vowed to continue its resistance while hundreds of CPI(M) cadres took out a rally.

"I am created by the people. I spoke about their problems and police torture on them. Now if the people want us to resist, we will do so. But I tell you I won't flee," the leader of the People's Committee Against Police Atrocity, Chhatradhar Mahato, told PTI on phone when asked about their future strategy.

The forces set up two camps between Salboni and Ramgarh - one at Goaltore by the India Reserve Batallion and another at a school at Ramgarh.

Another camp and a bunker was also set up at the Ramgarh police station, which was burned by the Maoists on June 14, and was visited by the IG (Western Range), Kuldeep Singh this morning.

Around 1000 CPI(M) cadre took out a motorcycle rally with red flags fluttering between Chandrakona Road near Ramgarh and Salboni. It was taken out by the Garbeta and Keshpur zonal committees of the party.

Keshpur CPI(M) Zonal Committee leader Santan Majhi told PTI that they had taken out the rally to restore peace.

Security forces were manning pickets every half kilometre on the road between Salboni and Ramgarh, a distance of 43 km. Vehicles were being searched and people were being asked to show identity proof by securitymen.

"We are going to villages surrounding Ramgarh and consolidating our position and reassuring the people that they were now free from the fear of Maoists," Burdwan ASP Humayun Kabir told PTI.

At Lalgarh, the DIG of Midnapore Range, Praveen Kumar, and other officials held a series of meetings to discuss the next course of action in their campaign to oust the extremists from the tribal belt.

Asked when they intended to launch the next phase of action, Kumar said, "The rule of law will ultimately prevail in the once Maoist-held areas. But, we will not divulge our plan." Mahato, meanwhile, said the PCPA had set up relief camps on the 12-km stretch between Lalgarh and Ramgarh "to alleviate people's suffering".

Agitating tribals of West Midnapore, under the banner of PCPA, backed by Maoists had launched a violent agitation since November against alleged police "atrocities" on them following a landmine blast at Salboni in which Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and two then Union Ministers had a narrow escape.

The Maoists went on the rampage targeting ruling CPI(M) cadres and offices and virtually took control of a large area after driving away police and paramilitary forces. The security forces began a crackdown on June 18 and secured Lalgarh two days later. The troops on Friday took control of Kadasole followed by Ramgarh, the largest Maoist stronghold in West Midnapore where the Left-wing ultras offered stiff resistance. — PTI