Maoist issue: Mamata Banerjee to hold talks with interlocutors

KOLKATA: A day after asking the Maoists to choose between talks and killing, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has called a meeting on Thursday with interlocutors whom she authorised to explore avenues for dialogue with the ultras in Jangalmahal.

State secretariat sources said the meeting would be held at the state secretariat to review the situation arising out of a spurt in Maoist violence in the three districts of West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia comprising Jangalmahal.

Perturbed at the resumption of Maoist violence that took life of two Trinamool Congress and a Jharkhand party leaders in the region, Banerjee served an ultimatum yesterday to the ultras, asking them to choose between talks and killing.

"The two can't go together," she told a rally at Singur. At the rally she stressed on her government's desire to hold dialogue with the Maoists, saying she had no objection "if they seek more time for talks. But if they kill innocent persons and then express a desire for talks then the two can't go together," Banerjee had said.

The interlocutors, led by human rights activist Sujato Bhadra, are recently in Jangalmahal.