KOLKATA: The Union home ministry has expressed concern that the joint forces' operation in Bengal has slowed down and central forces in Jangalmahal have been "sitting idle" for the past month. The ministry's officials are unhappy that the state police is not cooperating with paramilitary forces and refusing to accompany them on area domination missions.
At a review meeting in Delhi last week, home secretary G K Pillai ordered anti-Maoist operations intensified in the eastern states, considering that monsoon was only days away. He was informed that the operation in Bengal was going slow, particularly after the election. Another review meeting will take place in June-end, which will be chaired by Union home minister P Chidambaram.
The central forces had notched up a string of successes against Maoists, the last one being the killing of top rebel commander Sashadhar Mahato on March 11. After that the operations seem to have tapered off. A senior official pointed out that whenever any state government had slowed the operation against Maoists, the rebels had retaliated hard. He urged the Bengal government to "take a firm step".
According to sources, top police officers in Bengal fear that if they step up operations against the Maoists, it could anger chief minister Mamata Banerjee, who has often called for the withdrawal of paramilitary forces from Jangalmahal.
Kolkata Police's special task force has also been asked to go slow against Maoists and take prior approval before going for any action, say sources. At the meeting in Delhi, home officials said that the Bengal police's non-cooperation was creating problems for the central forces. There are now 42 paramilitary companies in the three districts of Jangalmahal, including six Naga units posted in Purulia. Officials say that for effective operations, every platoon of central forces (25 men) has to be accompanied by at least eight local policemen to familiarize them with the areas.
"But for the past month, there has not been any major raid against Maoists as the local police did not accompany the central force on one reason or the other," an official said, adding: "Right now the central forces are going on patrols for area familiarization."
CRPF IG T B Rao said he would be meeting the chief minister this week to apprise her of the joint operation. Before that he will visit Jangalmhal on Monday. The Maoists were cornered for the past three-four months, which is why they could not create any major trouble during the election.
But with the forces sitting idle, the Maoists are regrouping and making new recruitments. Top Maoist leaders Akashi and Bikash are now moving around in Garbeta," Rao said. "Now we are waiting to check out the Maoist policy of the new government."
Centre worried over slowdown in anti-Maoist ops - The Times of India
At a review meeting in Delhi last week, home secretary G K Pillai ordered anti-Maoist operations intensified in the eastern states, considering that monsoon was only days away. He was informed that the operation in Bengal was going slow, particularly after the election. Another review meeting will take place in June-end, which will be chaired by Union home minister P Chidambaram.
The central forces had notched up a string of successes against Maoists, the last one being the killing of top rebel commander Sashadhar Mahato on March 11. After that the operations seem to have tapered off. A senior official pointed out that whenever any state government had slowed the operation against Maoists, the rebels had retaliated hard. He urged the Bengal government to "take a firm step".
According to sources, top police officers in Bengal fear that if they step up operations against the Maoists, it could anger chief minister Mamata Banerjee, who has often called for the withdrawal of paramilitary forces from Jangalmahal.
Kolkata Police's special task force has also been asked to go slow against Maoists and take prior approval before going for any action, say sources. At the meeting in Delhi, home officials said that the Bengal police's non-cooperation was creating problems for the central forces. There are now 42 paramilitary companies in the three districts of Jangalmahal, including six Naga units posted in Purulia. Officials say that for effective operations, every platoon of central forces (25 men) has to be accompanied by at least eight local policemen to familiarize them with the areas.
"But for the past month, there has not been any major raid against Maoists as the local police did not accompany the central force on one reason or the other," an official said, adding: "Right now the central forces are going on patrols for area familiarization."
CRPF IG T B Rao said he would be meeting the chief minister this week to apprise her of the joint operation. Before that he will visit Jangalmhal on Monday. The Maoists were cornered for the past three-four months, which is why they could not create any major trouble during the election.
But with the forces sitting idle, the Maoists are regrouping and making new recruitments. Top Maoist leaders Akashi and Bikash are now moving around in Garbeta," Rao said. "Now we are waiting to check out the Maoist policy of the new government."
Centre worried over slowdown in anti-Maoist ops - The Times of India
...why allow the scum to regroup ???? ....We really need an efficient Govt at the centre.
