Chidambaram requests Bhattacharjee to take action against armed cadres

NEW DELHI - Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram on Wednesday expressing concern over the recent killings in Lalgarh’s Netai village requested West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee to take action against armed cadres.

During his meeting with Bhattacharjee here, Chidambaram restated the Government of India’s position that maintenance of law and order is the responsibility of the security forces and that the armed cadres of any political party cannot be allowed to play any part in the discharge of this responsibility.

The Home Minister also shared with Bhattacharjee information and intelligence available with the Central Government.

The Chief Minister assured that he understood the seriousness of the concern expressed by the Home Minister and would take appropriate steps.

Earlier, Chidambaram had sent a letter to Bhattacharjee asking him to reschedule all appointments and visit New Delhi immediately.

Chidambaram had said that he has received information that eight people were killed in the firing and 18 others were injured in it.

“I have written a letter to the chief minister and drawn his attention to this grave incident and requested him to kindly reschedule all (his) appointments and visit Delhi immediately,” he said.

Earlier, six villagers, including a woman were killed and over 20 injured in firing by suspected armed CPI-M cadres in Lalgarh in West Bengal’s West Midnapore District.

The villagers, who had gathered to protest against demands made by Marxist armed cadre that they volunteer for night patrols and arms training, were fired at from a house at Netai village in Belatikri gram panchayat in Lalgarh police station area. (ANI)