Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee for tough anti-Maoist operations

Kolkata, Dec 10 (ANI): West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee is of the view that unless and until a comprehensive operation against the Maoists is initiated by the central government, the success of such a strategy would be tough and is bound to fail.

Addressing a rally here on Wednesday, Bhattacharjee said: "The Maoists are using internal infrastructure of Jharkhand. They have been trained in Jharkhand. Arms are being supplied from there. They carry out their operations here. If they are successful, then they stay here, if they fail, then they flee to Jharkhand."

"I have been trying to convince the central government that if total operation does not take place in the whole area then it would be tough to hold success in our operation against them," he added.

Maoists have stepped up violence across eastern and central India. They have attacked schools and police stations, and used landmines and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) to disrupt infrastructure development projects.

They have also hijacked passenger trains including the prestigious super fast Rajdhani Express, beheaded policemen and suspected informers and attacked employees of mining companies.

The main objective of the Maoists is to prevent the development of infrastructure in remote areas, which so far has remained their exclusive domain.

Thousands have been killed by Maoists in the recent past. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has described the Maoist threat one of the gravest homegrown threats to India's internal security.

The rebels claim they are fighting for the rights of poor farmers and landless labourers. (ANI)