Maoists ready for talks, call for ceasefire in Lalgarh

KOLKATA: Facing offensive from security forces at Lalgarh, Maoists on Tuesday said they were ready for talks with the Centre and the state government, but demanded ceasefire as a pre-condition for the negotiations.

"We are ready for talks with the Centre and West Bengal government if the intellectuals, who visited the troubled Lalgarh area last Sunday, arrange for a meeting," CPI (Maoist) leader Sagar said in a statement.

However, the Maxal leader said the meeting could be possible only if the central para-military forces were withdrawn immediately from Lalgarh and a ceasefire is declared by the state police, outfit's spokesman Gour Chakraborty said.

Chakraborty said they were putting these conditions to create an atmosphere of peace before the talks could take place.

He said once the proposal for talks was mooted, the CPI (Maoist) leaders would set the agenda before meeting representatives of the Centre and West Bengal government.

A delegation of Kolkata-based intellectuals, including film personality Aparna Sen, theatre artistes Kaushik Sen and Saonli Mitra and poet Joy Goswami, visited Lalgarh on Sunday and met PCPA leader Chhatradhar Mahato and villagers.

The delegation has urged both Maoists and the security forces to exercise restraint and come to the negotiation table.