There will be bigger strikes, say Maoists

The banned Communist Party of India-Maoist issued a press statement from West Bengal's Purulia district on Saturday, threatening to launch more severe attacks on security forces and government establishments if the anti Naxalite operations are not stopped immediately, reports Snigdhendu Bhattacharya.

The banned Communist Party of India-Maoist issued a press statement from West Bengal's Purulia district on Saturday, threatening to launch more severe attacks on security forces and government establishments if the anti Naxalite operations are not stopped immediately.

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They also urged families of the paramilitary forces and policemen to bring their near and dear ones back home from the warfront.

And for the first time ever, the Naxals offered to compensate the families of the jawans and policeman killed in Dantewada on Tuesday.

"The wrong policies adopted by the government have caused these deaths. We do not want to kill them but are being forced to. We offer deep sympathy to families of the dead security personnel," the release said.

The Maoists stated they had no reservation against talks if the government creates the conditions for it, but insisted the government should talk not only with them, but with all revolutionary and progressive forces.

The statement issued by "Vikram" (whose designation is not mentioned) stated the Maoists will continue to carry out strikes on security forces as they did at Silda in West Bengal, Malkangiri in Orissa and Dantewara in Chhattisgarh.

It also threatened to carry out strikes on roads and railways used for transporting security forces. Corrupt bureaucrats and government officials would be punished, it added.

The release also denied that their top leader, Kishenji, died or suffered injuries in a gunbattle in west Midnapore in March, as claimed by the police.