Bengal demands additional central forces for Maoist-hit dists

Kolkata, Jan 14 (PTI) The West Bengal Government hasasked for at least three more battalions of central forces inthe Maoist-hit districts of West Midnapore, Bankura andPurulia in addition to the existing 41 companies there.

State secretariat sources said here that the demandhad already been placed by state Home Secretary G D Gautama ina communication to Union Home Secretary G K Pillai.

The state government, however, is yet to receive anyfeedback on its demand.

The three Maoist-hit districts already have 35companies of CRPF and six companies of the Naga Battalion, thesources said.

ADG (Law and Order) Surajit Kar Purakayastha saidthat demand for six companies of CRPF, including one companyof women personnel, had also been placed before the Centre tocombat growing law and order problems in Darjeeling followingcontinuous agitation by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha to pressfor a Gorkhaland state.