West Bengal sounds alert in Maoist-hit districts

West Bengal on Tuesday sounded an alert in three districts of West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia following the massive Maoist attack in Chhattisgarh that killed 73 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) troopers.

West Bengal on Tuesday sounded an alert in three districts of West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia following the massive Maoist attack in Chhattisgarh that killed 73 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) troopers.

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"We have already sounded high alert in all three Maoists-affected districts of West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia," state Director General of Police Bhupinder Singh said.

"We have also asked all police stations and central paramilitary forces' camps to be on alert so that no Maoist guerrillas can sneak into this territory (West Bengal side)," Singh said.

At least 73 troopers were killed when Maoist guerrillas ambushed a CRPF vehicle in a thickly forested area of Chhattisgarh's violence-hit Bastar region. The attack, in which the guerrillas first bombed the vehicle and then opened fire, took place at Chintalnar hamlet of Dantewada district.

"We have asked our forces to keep a close vigil everywhere to combat any untoward incident," Singh said.