Indian security troops close in on Maoists in West Bengal

India, Jun 29, 2009

Indian officials say that fierce clashes are continuing between Indian security forces and Maoist rebels as troops continue their operation to flush the rebels out of their strongholds in West Bengal state. According to the BBC, officials say that they have consolidated control over several Maoist strongholds, including restive Lalgarh in West Midnapore district, where the Maoists had virtually controlled since November. Security forces last week launched a military operation to restore law and order in Lalgarh after Maoist rebels, backed by villagers, went on a rampage and burned down buildings, including police posts. At least 10 rival communist party rebels were killed in the violence. Police reportedly had abandoned the area, but the central government sent in some 1,000 paramilitary troops who helped take back control of the area early last week. According to the BBC, Praveen Kumar, the officer leading the operation, said that fighting had continued for hours. He added that the rebels had set off at least 12 landmines, but said there were no casualties among security troops. According to the BBC, the rebels said that they would not lay down arms.  "We will remain engaged in battles against this terrorist state that uses people's money to arm itself to teeth," the BBC quoted a Maoist spokesperson as saying. Maoist violence has left some 6,000 people dead over the past 20 years. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has described the Maoists as the greatest threat to India's internal security. Meanwhile, officials said that an Indian soldier was killed in cross-border firing in Indian-controlled Kashmir (IcK) on Sunday (June 28) night. According to Reuters, it was not clear whether the firing was from separatists trying to sneak over into IcK or from Pakistani troops. The shooting took place in the Poonch sector.  India has in the past accused troops over firing over the border to allow militants trying to sneak into IcK, but Pakistan has denied the allegations. A 2003 ceasefire between India and Pakistan has largely held, although there have been some violations. Elsewhere in the region, the Press Trust of India (PTI) reported that three paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force personnel were injured by a blast after suspected militants threw a grenade at them on Saturday at Jehangir chowk, in Srinagar in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. No group has claimed immediate responsibility. Separately, according to the PTI, a militant was killed in a clash with police commandos in Imphal West district of Manipur state.  Officials said that the clash broke out when police began to search suspicious people and firing broke out.  Several other militants reportedly escaped the police.