Anti Naxal operations in West Bengal

LALGARH/ KOLKATA - The government offices in Lalgarh have been closed following operation ‘Green Hunt’ by the state and central forces in West Bengal.

All the government offices here are closed that includes the offices of the Block Development Officer (BDO), the ration department and the forest range.

Authorities have contended that the offices have been closed for security reasons and thwart possible attack by Maoists. Maoists are doing their best to provoke villagers, who find it difficult to carry on their routine activities due to the closure of government establishments.

“We are facing too much trouble. We can’t do any work from BDO office. We are poor people and farmers. All our relevant paperwork has come to a standstill,” said Hiren Mahato, a local farmer.

“Ration card - exchange card, certificates for children, all are pending,” he added.

Lalgarh is regarded as the stronghold of suspected Maoist rebels and it has witnessed a spate of violent and bloody incidents over the past couple of months.

Meanwhile, in Kolkata some leftist groups demonstrated against anti-Maoist ‘Green Hunt’ operation.

“We are opposing it because this is aggression against the people,” said Communist Party of India (Marxist-Lenin) General Secretary Santosh Rana.

“The government wants to hand over a large area of land and forest and what-not to multinationals and, for that purpose, it is being launched. So, we are opposing it,” Rana added. (ANI)