Security environment under threat in West Bengal: Buddhadeb

The security environment in West Bengal is under threat from Left-wing extremists in western areas and ongoing "separatist" movement in Darjeeling, Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said on Sunday.

The security environment in West Bengal is under threat from Left-wing extremists in western areas and ongoing "separatist" movement in Darjeeling, Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said on Sunday.

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He said 28 police station in the three districts of Western Medinipur, Purulia and Bankura are affected by Naxalism.

"The spread of Left-wing extremism in these areas has been facilitated by their location next to the affected areas of Orissa and Jharkhand as well as by the dense forest cover available for cover action," he said.

Mentioning about the situation in Lalgarh, Bhattacharjee said, "They (Naxals) have killed civilians and policemen, mostly in and around Lalgarh."

The Chief Minister said the police action in the area last year did not get any resistance from locals despite attempts of the extremists to mobilise them against the police.

Bhattacharjee said the time is right "to mount pressure on the extremists" as recent success has added momentum to anti-naxal operations and also morale of the forces is now high.

About the demand of separate Gorkhaland state, he clearly said the state government has not accepted the demand though it has agreed to increase the powers of Darjeeling Gorkha Hill council or "any other body which could replace the council".