New Delhi: The security environment in West
Bengal is under threat from Left-wing extremists in western
areas and ongoing "separatist" movement in Darjeeling, Chief
Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said on Sunday.
He said 28 police station in the three districts of
Western Medinipur, Purulia and Bankura are affected by
Naxalism.
"The spread of Left-wing extremism in these areas has
been facilitated by their location next to the affected areas
of Orissa and Jharkhand as well as by the dense forest cover
available for cover action," he said.
Mentioning about the situation in Lalgarh, Bhattacharjee
said, "They (Naxals) have killed civilians and policemen,
mostly in and around Lalgarh."
The Chief Minister said the police action in the area
last year did not get any resistance from locals despite
attempts of the extremists to mobilise them against the
police.
Bhattacharjee said the time is right "to mount pressure
on the extremists" as recent success has added momentum to
anti-naxal operations and also morale of the forces is now
high.
About the demand of separate Gorkhaland state, he clearly
said the state government has not accepted the demand though
it has agreed to increase the powers of Darjeeling Gorkha Hill
council or "any other body which could replace the council".
Bhattacharjee said repeated demonstrations in the
Darjeeling hills have disrupted normal life in the area.
"The tourist traffic has been hit and work in tea gardens
has been affected. Work on schemes of income generation has
suffered. NHPC has not been allowed to work on the Teesta
hydel projects," he said.
Bhattacharjee said four rounds of tripartite talks
between the state, Centre and the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha have
been held "but no solution has yet emerged".
He said demand for another state of Kamtapur or Greater
Coochbehar has been revived with support from KLO and ULFA
whose leaders have taken shelter in Bangladesh.
"The Government of India must take up the matter with the
Bangladesh Government as a priority," he said.
About the general security situation in the state,
Bhattacharjee said six coastal police stations have started
operation.
"We are happy that Government of India has decided to
continue to fund Police Modernisation. The scope and coverage
of this assistance will have to be expanded," he said.
PTI
First Published: Sunday, February 07, 2010, 20:31