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Indian forces renew Maoist attack Indian forces clash with Maoists
(about 10 hours later)
Indian forces have launched fresh operations against Maoist strongholds in an embattled enclave in the state of West Bengal, officials say. Indian security forces have clashed with Maoist guerrillas as they launched fresh operations against rebel strongholds, officials say.
Having consolidated their grip on parts of Lalgarh, troops are now fanning out to target surrounding areas, a police spokesman told the BBC. They say that the latest fighting has taken place in an embattled enclave in the state of West Bengal.
The state government recently re-asserted control in Lalgarh after Maoist rebels drove out local police. Security forces say they have consolidated their grip on Lalgarh and troops are now fanning out.
The insurgents had almost total control of the area since November 2008. They say that they have launched a determined campaign to retrieve territory and re-impose control.
But security forces have launched a determined campaign to retrieve territory and impose government control. The state government says that it briefly lost control in Lalgarh earlier this month after Maoist rebels drove out local police.
They have been been bolstered by the arrival of more police from the neighbouring state of Jharkhand. The insurgents have been active in the area since November 2008.
The BBC's Subhir Bhaumik, in Calcutta, says Maoists are active there as well and the Jharkand police units have considerable experience in fighting Maoist rebels. But the security forces have been been bolstered by the arrival of more police from the neighbouring state of Jharkhand.
Maoist-linked violence has killed 6,000 people in India over the past 20 years. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has described the Maoists as the greatest threat to India's internal security. The BBC's Subhir Bhaumik in Calcutta says that troops, having secured Lalgarh, are now trying to force the Maoists out of the entire Jangalmahal region of West Bengal bordering Jharkhand.
West Bengal police spokesman Raj Kanojia said that the paramilitary troops were now targeting the areas of Goaltore and Ramgarh. The security forces say that they want to open routes between various key locations in the area so that Maoists will find it more difficult to operate in the villages.
"The fresh operations started early on Friday. The forces are fanning out slowly and so far they have not met any resistance from the Maoists," Mr Kanojia told the BBC. Our correspondent says that such area domination needs numerical superiority - the forces now outnumber the Maoists 10 to one, but the Maoists know the jungles better and can survive better in the deep forests because their fighters are from local tribes or highly motivated veterans.
"But they have been told to be extremely alert because there could be stray raids, explosions and some obstruction by supporters of a local resistance committee close to the Maoists." Maoist-linked violence has killed 6,000 people in India over the past 20 years.
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has described the Maoists as the greatest threat to India's internal security.
Troop movementsTroop movements
The BBC's Amitabha Bhattsali is with the paramilitary columns fanning out towards Goaltore from Lalgarh. The BBC's Amitabha Bhattsali is with the paramilitary columns as they fan out.
"The forces are moving in a single column to avoid casualties in a possible ambush. "They are moving in a single column to avoid casualties in a possible ambush," he said.
"Minesweeping vehicles have cleared the roads but the troops are cautious. They are looking out for explosives specially under wooden bridges," he reported from Lalgarh. "Minesweeping vehicles have cleared the roads but the troops are cautious. They are looking out for explosives, especially under wooden bridges," he reported from Lalgarh.
Until Thursday, there were reports that armed Maoist squads were present around Goaltore and neighbouring areas of Kadasole.
"They were provoking villagers to stay back and resist the forces , but now the villages seem desolate," our correspondent says.
The renewed attack comes shortly after the Indian government banned the Communist Party of India (Maoist).
The move enabled the government to arrest party members even if they had not been directly involved in insurgent activities.
A top Maoist leader and the party's "overground spokesman" Gour Chakrabarty was arrested on Tuesday.
West Bengal's chief minister Buddhadev Bhattacharya has rejected Maoist offers of talks, saying "they must first surrender their weapons and stop the violence".West Bengal's chief minister Buddhadev Bhattacharya has rejected Maoist offers of talks, saying "they must first surrender their weapons and stop the violence".
The violence in Lalgarh began last November after Mr Bhattacharya narrowly escaped a landmine blast blamed on the rebels.The violence in Lalgarh began last November after Mr Bhattacharya narrowly escaped a landmine blast blamed on the rebels.
Protests were launched when a number of locals were arrested on suspicion of attempting to assassinate him.Protests were launched when a number of locals were arrested on suspicion of attempting to assassinate him.
Are you in the Lalgarh area? Have you witnessed any of the attacks? Send us your experiences using the form below.Are you in the Lalgarh area? Have you witnessed any of the attacks? Send us your experiences using the form below.
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