Lalgarh: Administration reaches out to villagers

KOLKATA: In its bid to isolate Lalgarh���s village folk from the Maoists, the West Bengal government on Monday distributed 6 kg rice packs to 1085 people.

When contacted, the block development officer (BDO) of Binpur, Saurav Barik, told ET over phone that they had received tremendous response from Lalgarh���s villagers who in the past few months had failed to earn their livelihood due to intense terror tactics unleashed by the Maoists.

"We���ve distributed rice among 1085 villagers and we are busy planning tomorrow���s distribution schedule," Barik said.

West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee on Sunday held a spate of meetings with his state administration and top police officers, including chief secretary Ashok Mohan Chakraborty and home secretary Ardhendu Sen. to explore ways for the government to help the villagers of Lalgarh, a majority of whom are tribals.

It is learnt that the Buddhadeb government will continue its drive to help Lalgarh���s villagers, although it cannot be a permanent solution as it will eventually have to restore normalcy in Lalgarh to enable the villagers earn their livelihood.

With the establishment of relief camps for poor villagers, the operation against the Maoists in Lalgarh and 17 other police stations in West Midnapore, Purulia and Bankura will also continue, a senior state government official said on Monday.

Meanwhile, noted literateur and Magsaysay award winner Mahasewta Devi warned on Monday that she would "gherao chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee at Writers��� Buildings if Chhatradhar Mahato, the Lalgarh tribal leader is arrested".

"The Left Front government has done nothing for the tribals of Lalgarh and other backward districts. They have the right to agitate and once the police arrests Chhatradhar, me and my activists will gherao Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee at Writers��� Buildings," the writer warned.

Train services disrupted

Train services in Chandil-Purulia section in Adra division of South Eastern Railway was disrupted since early morning on Monday, following detection of suspected landmines in railway track between Nimdih and Biramdih stations.

Tata-Danapur Express between Tata -Asansol-Tata, Chakradharpur-Gomoh passenger, Purulia-Chandil-Purulia shuttle were among the trains that were cancelled. In particular, it was the alertness of two gangmen patrolling the track between Biramdih and Nimdih station, Chandan Hazari and Nardeo Tanti that prevented a major incident.