ID :
68092
Sun, 06/28/2009 - 20:34
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/68092
The shortlink copeid
Security forces capture Maoist stronghold of Ramgarh
Amitava Roy
Ramgarh (WB), June 27 (PTI) Security forces on
Saturday captured key Maoist stronghold of Ramgarh as they
launched a two-pronged attack to reclaim areas in West
Midnapore district under control of Left-wing ultras who
offered stiff resistance by detonating landmines and opening
gunfire, in India's eastern state of West Bengal.
Maoists also torched an office of the Leftist trade
union All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) when they were
refused sanctuary in the building shortly before the security
forces entered Ramgarh.
Security forces headed from Lalgarh in the south and
Kadasole, which was secured Friday, in the north towards
Ramgarh this morning, a senior Central Reserve Police Force
(CRPF) officer said.
"We have secured Ramgarh. We will establish a police
outpost and a camp. The police will retore normalcy. The
operations will continue," IG CID (Special Operations Group)
Siddhinath Gupta said.
Three landmines exploded as 10 companies comprising
1000 men of the CRPF, the India Reserve Battalion and Rapid
Action Force set out from Kadasole, braving heavy rains and
reached Mohultol, with the Maoists also firing at them.
The security forces retaliated with AK-47s, mortars
and rocket propelled grenade launchers overcoming the
resistance swiftly, the officer said.
In the south, 11 CRPF companies comprising 1100 men
reached Boropelia village, the home of the agitating People's
Committee Against Police Atrocities leader Chhatradhar Mahato.
They were attacked by Maoists at Pathardanga where two
landmines were detected. But the naxals retreated after
retaliatory action.
People came out in droves to greet security forces as
they arrived. The locals offered drinking water to the
fatigued troops.
"We are smiling after many months. We were waiting for
the security forces to arrive. They must have faced great
difficulty in reaching our village," a resident said.
A woman said that at around noon a group of 25 to 30
armed Maoists knocked on her door seeking shelter.
"When I refused, they threatened to open fire but soon
retreated," she said.
The Maoists while fleeing set ablaze an office of the
AITUC, she said.
Agitating tribals of West Midnapore, under the banner
of People's Committee Against Police Atrocities, backed by
Maoists had launched a violent agitation since November
against alleged police "atrocities" on them following a
landmine blast at Salboni in which Chief Minister Buddhadeb
Bhattacharjee and two Union ministers had a narrow escape.
The Maoists went on the rampage targeting ruling
Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) cadres and offices
and virtually took control of a large area after driving away
the police and paramilitary forces.
The security forces began a crackdown on June 18 and
secured Lalgarh two days later. The troops Friday took
control of Kadasole, where the Maoists fled after a 45-minute
gunbattle. PTI AMR
SKT
NNNN
Ramgarh (WB), June 27 (PTI) Security forces on
Saturday captured key Maoist stronghold of Ramgarh as they
launched a two-pronged attack to reclaim areas in West
Midnapore district under control of Left-wing ultras who
offered stiff resistance by detonating landmines and opening
gunfire, in India's eastern state of West Bengal.
Maoists also torched an office of the Leftist trade
union All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) when they were
refused sanctuary in the building shortly before the security
forces entered Ramgarh.
Security forces headed from Lalgarh in the south and
Kadasole, which was secured Friday, in the north towards
Ramgarh this morning, a senior Central Reserve Police Force
(CRPF) officer said.
"We have secured Ramgarh. We will establish a police
outpost and a camp. The police will retore normalcy. The
operations will continue," IG CID (Special Operations Group)
Siddhinath Gupta said.
Three landmines exploded as 10 companies comprising
1000 men of the CRPF, the India Reserve Battalion and Rapid
Action Force set out from Kadasole, braving heavy rains and
reached Mohultol, with the Maoists also firing at them.
The security forces retaliated with AK-47s, mortars
and rocket propelled grenade launchers overcoming the
resistance swiftly, the officer said.
In the south, 11 CRPF companies comprising 1100 men
reached Boropelia village, the home of the agitating People's
Committee Against Police Atrocities leader Chhatradhar Mahato.
They were attacked by Maoists at Pathardanga where two
landmines were detected. But the naxals retreated after
retaliatory action.
People came out in droves to greet security forces as
they arrived. The locals offered drinking water to the
fatigued troops.
"We are smiling after many months. We were waiting for
the security forces to arrive. They must have faced great
difficulty in reaching our village," a resident said.
A woman said that at around noon a group of 25 to 30
armed Maoists knocked on her door seeking shelter.
"When I refused, they threatened to open fire but soon
retreated," she said.
The Maoists while fleeing set ablaze an office of the
AITUC, she said.
Agitating tribals of West Midnapore, under the banner
of People's Committee Against Police Atrocities, backed by
Maoists had launched a violent agitation since November
against alleged police "atrocities" on them following a
landmine blast at Salboni in which Chief Minister Buddhadeb
Bhattacharjee and two Union ministers had a narrow escape.
The Maoists went on the rampage targeting ruling
Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) cadres and offices
and virtually took control of a large area after driving away
the police and paramilitary forces.
The security forces began a crackdown on June 18 and
secured Lalgarh two days later. The troops Friday took
control of Kadasole, where the Maoists fled after a 45-minute
gunbattle. PTI AMR
SKT
NNNN
