Security forces reclaim Dharampur without any opposition

Security forces on Wednesday recaptured the Maoist bastion of Dharampur in West Bengal, out of bounds for police for the past eight months, in a two-pronged drive as the tribals offered them no resistance in the fourth phase of operations to reclaim areas held by Left wing ultras.

Security forces on Wednesday recaptured this Maoist bastion, out of bounds for police for the past eight months, in a two-pronged drive as the tribals offered them no resistance in the fourth phase of operations to reclaim areas held by Left wing ultras.

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The security forces in their 10 km advance to Dharampur in West Midnapore district only found felled trees at a number of places which were cleared by the payloaders accompanying the 10 companies, comprising around 1,000 men, DIG (Midnapore Range) Praveen Kumar told reporters.

The Maoists backing the tribal platform People's Committee Against Police Atrocities had torched a CPI-M office and razed a police outpost at Dharampur on June 14.

The team from Dherua to Dharampur was led by SP Manoj Verma and the other from Lalgarh to Dharampur by Kumar.

"This was a major target. Dharampur had been out of bounds for the police for the past eight months," Kumar said.

Verma said police camps would be set up at Gouni and at Dharampur.

Asked how long the operations, launched on June 19, would continue, the DIG said, "We have specific targets. Until the targets are achieved, the operations will continue."