Opn Lalgarh: 22 villages freed from Maoists

New Delhi, Jun 23: The 'Operation Lalgarh' entered sixth day as the security forces reclaimed 22 of the 42 villages controlled by the Maoist guerillas. The police took control of the National Highway 6 and 60, which passes through the forested area of Jahtika connecting Lalgarh.

Taking note of the incidents happening in Lalgarh, the National Human Rights Commission has expressed great concern over reports of security forces using locals as human shields, and warned that in case of human rights violations, appropriate action will be recommended against them.

The NHRC expected that the security, police forces, and officials will not act or order actions, in contravention of law and human rights norms by which they are bound in the ongoing operation.

Meanwhile, Maoist sympathiser and writer P Varvara Rao demanded the ban on CPI (Maoist) to be rolled back with immediate effect.

Reacting to the ban imposed on the Maoist outfit by the central Government under section 41 of the Unlawful Activity (Prevention) Act 1967, the revolutionary writer said "banning a political party does not serve any purpose, banning a political party means, banning its ideology. This will not stop the violence."

ANI