Bengal seeks three-time increase in CRPF for Maoist areas

Kolkata, Jun 17 (UNI) West Bengal government today sought 12 companies of additional Central Reserve Police Force jawans from the Centre in three Maoist-affected districts even as Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee held a high-level meeting to review the situation.

Inspector General of Police(Law and Order) Raj Kanojia told reporters that the government had requested the Centre to despatch 12 companies of CRPF personnel for deployment in Bankura, Purulia and West Midnapore districts--the hotbed of Maoist activities.

At present, six companies of CRPF jawans were posted in these three districts.

The government's move came two days after the Chief Minister's announcement in the State Assembly that nine new police stations would be set up in these three districts to strengthen security.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister told a high-level meeting at the Writers Building that the government would strengthen the police stations and increase the number of policemen in the extremist- dominated districts. He also put thrust on random patrolling in the affected areas to instill confidence among the people.

The one-and-a-half hour meeting was attended by the Chief Secretary, the Home Secretary and the Inspector General of Police (Western Range), besides the Deputy Inspector Generals of Police and Superintendents of Police of the three districts.

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