Security forces reclaim Kadasole from Maoists near Lalgarh

Lalgarh (West Midinapore), June 26 (ANI): Security forces on Friday reclaimed control over Kadasole village from Maoists, located north of Lalgarh in West Midinapore district, during phase II of ongoing operations against the naxals who set off two landmine blasts.

Led by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), the troops including jungle warfare expert and personnel of the Indian Reserve Battalion and State Armed Police, who were helped by a helicopter, exchanged fire for 45 minutes with the Maoists who later fled the village, said a senior CRPF official.

"There was no casualty and no arrest. The operations for the day is over and Kadasole has been secured. The forces will be stationed here," said the official.

The security force launched the operations from Goaltore in the morning, five days after taking control of Lalgarh police station and faced no resistance till Pingboni three kilometres away.

The security forces then moved another four km to Kadasole, where they spotted a group of 15 armed Maoists.

The troops came under fire from the Maoists and retaliated with mortars, light machine guns and AK-47s.

A helicopter also arrived and tried to spot the Maoists. Maoists triggered a landmine blast near a forest at Kadasole, four kms from Pingboni.

" Our main concern were landmines. There were two landmine explosions at Kadasole," the officer said.

Two other landmines, one an IED and another a sophisticated one, were defused near a bridge near Kadasole, he said.

The security forces after trading fire for 45 minutes cordoned off the village and moved in, but the Maoists had escaped by then. (ANI)