Bengal plans development projects to counter KLO

The recent blast at Jalpaiguri in north Bengal that claimed six lives has made the state government sit up and take notice of the Kamtapur Liberation Organisation (KLO), which has grown into a security threat.

The Trinamool Congress plans to curb the threat with a two-pronged approach of development and tightening security and intelligence processes, senior officials said.

Though the outfit does not have a wide area of operation, officials believe that if steps were not taken to nip it in the bud, it could grow into a bigger threat. “The KLO has been largely confined to north Bengal, mostly in areas bordering Bhutan. We, however, have intelligence inputs that they are jumping on the bigger bandwagon of insurgent outfits in the North-East. If that happens, it could become a serious threat,” a senior official said.

The issue was discussed at a high-level meeting attended by Union Home Secretary Anil Goswami, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and senior state government officials earlier this week. During the three-hour meeting, Goswami alerted the government about the KLO’s expansion plans.

Goswami, while sharing some intelligence inputs with the state, also raised concerns about the KLO making a fresh attempt at reviving their lot in the region.