Buddhadeb plans to tame Maoists hiding in Purulia

KOLKATA/RANCHI: After carrying out joint operations in Lalgarh and other pockets of West Midnapore district, the West Bengal government now plans to concentrate the operations against the Maoists in some pockets of Purulia district close to the neighbouring state of Jharkhand.

The director general (DG) of state police, Bhupinder Singh, along with the inspector general of police (law and order) Raj Kanojia on Wednesday held a meeting in Purulia primarily to take stock of the police camps located in the Maoist infested areas, as the police have received information about possible attempts by the Maoists to loot these camps to collect arms and ammunition from the forces.

The DG also held a meeting with his Jharkhand counterpart V D Ram at Ranchi, as the two states are planning to destroy the Maoist hideouts located in the areas bordering these states. A number of Maoist leaders from Lalgarh have reportedly taken shelter in these bordering areas after the Lalgarh operations.

Sources said that these leaders are now camping at Raika Hills and Bhalopahar jungles under the Bandwan police station in Purulia district. Since the spot is very close to Jharkhand, there is every possibility that these ultra-Left leaders might flee to the neighbouring state in case of police action against them.