Buddha dares Maoists in their hotbed

Khatra, Bankura, Apr 14 (UNI) Daring the Maoists in their hotbed, West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee today vowed to wipe out left extremism in South Bengal and appealed to the people to vote without fear.

In a bid to charge up voters in the face of Maoist violence and the call for boycotting polls in some areas of Purulia, Bankura and West Midnapore districts, the chief minister asserted that his police would match the fire power of the underground outfit and the party would fight a political battle to defeat extremists in the state.

''We shall not allow them to be in West Bengal. We shall punish them and send them back to Jharkhand from where they have come...

How many guns do they have? My police will tackle them and the government will take all measures against violence, threat and intimidation,'' he said while addressing an election rally in support of Left Front candidates from Bankura district.

With three days to go for the first phase of polls in the Maoist-affected Purulia, Bankura and West Midnapore districts, the rally was organised at a football ground under the Ranibandh constituency bordering Jharkhand, the scene of recent Maoist depredation.

Appealing to the people to gather courage and face the extremists, Mr Bhattacharjee challenged the Maoists to show their strength and come out in the open.

This was the chief minister's second election rally after yesterday's meeting at Purulia in the run up to the election for the first phase for 45 Assembly constituencies. His itinerary, however, did not include West Midnapore, the worst affected by Maoist activities in the recent times.

MORE UNI KDG PL AK KN1909