Naxals strike in Bengal. 4 CRPF men killed. Maoist leader turns down talks.
Mangalore Today News Network
New Delhi, May 19: Suspected Maoists triggered a landmine blast on a railway track near Jhargram in West Midnapore district on Wednesday, injuring two drivers of a goods train and leaving the engine of the freight train damaged. The attack came on the second day of the two-day five-state bandh called by the Maoists and disrupted train services on the Kharagpur-Tata Nagar section of South Eastern Railway.
On Monday 18 Maoists have blew up a bus at Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada, which claimed life of 36 people including 12 police officers. The entire district is worst affected by left wing extremism since long time.
It seems that all the attacks are well-planned by the Maoists. The Police officers are their main target. They have also included the name of the officers for the attack in the plan. According to their plan, they have succeeded to kill nearly 100 CRPF personnels including civilian.
Today, May 19, Maoists attacks were took place in different districts West Bengal and Orissa. The fist incident was took place near Khatkhura halt station, West Bengal when the landmine detonated as soon as the engine of the goods train passed over it.
The engine and windshield of the train were damaged by the blast which left a two-feet deep crater at the spot.The driver and the assistant driver of the freight train were injured by shards of glass. Police and railway officials said several rail sleepers were blown up and the overhead power cable cut on both tracks by the impact of the blast.
Rail services were halted in both tracks with several long-distance trains either diverted or stranded at various stations since 2am.
Railway officials along with police and paramilitary forces have reached the spot and repair work has begun.
Several trains including Howrah-Puroshattampur Express were diverted and other trains such as Howrah-Tata Nagar Steel Express, UP and down Howrah-Hatia Express, Sambaleshwari Express and other local and passenger trains have been stranded at various stations.
Meanwhile, life has come to a standstill in Jungle Mahal areas of West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia districts with no traffic on the roads and shops and markets closed.
4 CRPF personnel killed in Naxal attack in West Bengal
Midnapore, May 19: Four CRPF personnel were on Wednesday killed and two injured in an IED blast triggered by Naxals at Lalgarh in West Bengal on the second day of their bandh called in five states.
The blast comes a day after Union home minister P Chidambaram asked the Naxals to abjure violence and come for talks.
The CRPF men had set out from their camp at Goaltore market to patrol nearby villagers on foot when the blast took place at Ramgarh in Lalgarh police station area in West Midnapore district at 1130 hrs.
"Four CRPF jawans and two were injured in an IED blast set off by Naxals," M Nageswar Rao, CRPF Inspector General of Police, Eastern Sector said.
Those killed included three constables besides the driver of the SUV in which they were travelling. The vehicle was badly damaged in the explosion.
Naxals are the biggest terrorists: C M Raman Singh
Meanwhile, Chattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh said that the Naxals as the biggest terrorists, and there cannot be a ’soft line’ to deal with Maoists but disfavoured use of air power to combat the menace.
Attributing the recent spur in the Naxal violence to frontal operations by the security forces in the state, Singh favoured a long-term action joint action plan with the Centre to tackle the problem.
Singh is in the capital to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia two days after the Naxal attack in Dantewada left 35 people dead including 14 Special Police Officers (SPO’s)
Giving details of Naxal activities in the last 10 years in Chhattisgarh, he said the ultras have killed more than 1000 civilians and more than 650 policemen besides blowing up 132 electric towers, 106 school buildings and three hospitals in the state.
Top Maoist Leader Turns Down Chidambaram’s Offer Of Talks.
Top Maoist leader Kishenji on Wednesday turned down Union Home Minister P Chidamabaram’s conditional offer of talks saying that the government should "first stop violence".
"The government has initiated violence and should stop the violence first and then we will respond to its call," Kishenji told PTI over phone from an undisclosed location.
Chidambaram had yesterday made a fresh offer to hold talks with the left wing extremists if they suspend violence even for just 72 hours.
"We want to tell the government and the people that we also don’t have faith in violence, but if the government is arrogant and kills not only us, but the common people mercilessly then we have no other alternative, but to resort to arms," he claimed.
"Why is Chidambaram resorting to violence and killing people when Congress president Sonia Gandhi is in favour of the development model in tribal areas?" he questioned.
He said the Maoists had given the names of Arundhuti Roy, Kabir Suman and Dr B D Sharma to mediate in talks, but the government had turned down the offer which is also on the basis of the recommendations of the Debabrata Bandopadhyay Committee appointed by the Planning Commission.
He took the responsiblity for killing of CRPF personnel at Ramgarh near Lalgarh today and at Dantewada in Chattisgarh on Monday.
’This was the last day of our bandh and we congratulate the people for making it successful," he said.
On the Dantewada killings he said "We are very sorry for death of the innocent people, but we request people not to travel with the police in the same vehicle. Our fight is not with the people, but with the government".
Calling for observance of a ’Black Week’ from May 26 to June 2, he accused the government of selling the country to multi-nationals and companies in the name of globalisation.