Bengal home department to combat maoist menace

Siliguri, Oct 5 (UNI) West Bengal Home Department has sponsored a special police training at six districts in north Bengal, captured by different extremist outfits.

Keeping in view the recent landmine blast at Maoist-infested Lalgarh area in West Midnapore that killed a few police officials along with some civillians, the department has taken such a step.

The bomb disposal experts of Bhabani Bhaban had provided similar training to the selected police officers of these district last week in Kolkata.

After the completion of the training these officers would form one expert team in each districts and provide training to their subordinates under the supervision of district police superintendent, sources said.

North Bengal Inspector General of Police Kishanlal Meena told UNI that their police force has insufficient bomb squad teams and hence have to call the army or Border Security Force (BSF) bomb squads in time of emergency.

''The bomb squad is operating under CID officers with only two bomb experts which is not enough,'' Mr Meena said.

He said the training would help to combat the maoist menace in North Bengal.

The training would expertise the officers in Vapor Explosive detector, Under Carriage Trolley Mirror, Dip Metal Search Detector and like other modern technological equipments, he said.

UNI XC PP RN1450