Mine blast triggers tension in Lalgarh
Explosion takes place at Jhitka forest
At a time when security forces are in the process of sanitising the 42 villages in and around La
lgarh after ending the Maoist siege over there last week, a high intensity landmine went off at the Jhitka forest on Thursday morning, reports received here said.
The blast that caused no harm whatsoever, set the forces on high alert and a large contingent has been deployed to thoroughly comb the forest to nab suspected Naxalites who were believed to fled the scene, reports said.
Apart from an abandoned motorcycle and a few meters of burnt wire, nothing has been found. But the blast has prompted the authorities to beef up the security around Lalgarh police station. “The landmine explosion took place at Jhitka forest in Lalgarh but there was no incident of firing between the Maoist rebels and security forces. No casualty was reported in the blast,” state Deputy Inspector General of Police (Midnapore range) Praveen Kumar said.
Police said they have recovered some documents from the site and also got a few names after primary investigation. “Our officers are there and we are looking into the matter to find out who were behind this explosion. We’re now trying to enhance the security system in this forest-covered territory,” he said. In another development, Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacherjee said in the assembly here that PCAPA convener Chatradhar Mahato has been aiding the Maoists in Lalgarh.
“He may not be a Maoist himself per se, but his activities amount to aiding the ultras and there is, indeed, an urgent need for his arrest,” Bhattacherjee said.
The Chief Minister’s observations come in the wake of the home secretary Ardhendu Sen’s earlier remark that Mahato had links with the Maoists. Mahato who has already gone underground, claimed over phone that he had the support of the people of Lalgarh and not the Maoists.
