West Bengal to fortify police stations to combat Maoists

Kolkata, Oct 26 (ANI): West Bengal Home Secretary Ardhendu Sen has said that the state government will fortify police stations to combat Maoist insurgent in the region.

Addressing reporters on the sidelines of a top level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee here on Sunday, Sen said: "Around 30 police stations have been identified for fortification."

"The discussion was mainly concerned on the fortification of the police stations not only in the affected area but in the areas adjoining the affected police stations which we identify as vulnerable areas. We have taken roughly 30 police stations for fortification. Some of them would need an augmentation of force; some of them would need buildings, central posts, boundary walls. All of that has been identified," Sen added.

The state government has approved rupees 70.5 million for the fortification.

India has witnessed a series of violent Maoist attacks after police arrested three top Maoist ideologues -. Kobad Ghandy, Chhatradhar Mahato and Chandrabhushan Yadav ecently.

India is battling Maoists across eastern, central and southern India, a guerilla movement that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has described as the biggest internal security challenge since independence.

The government of India has formally labelled Maoists as a terrorist group, which gives security forces more enforcement powers. (ANI)