Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Bengal on edge, as ceasefire deadline for Maoists approaches














Kolkata:  West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's deadline to Maoists to cease fire ends on Saturday. The West Bengal Chief Minister has said last week: ''I don't want trouble in Junglemahal. So I am giving you seven days.''

But so far the Maoists seem in no mood to come forward for talks. Instead, on Tuesday, they engaged security forces in a gun battle. And adding fuel to the fire writer esteemed tribal rights activist and writer Mahasweta Devi joined the Maoist chorus for the withdrawal of the armed forces from the Maoist affected areas of the state.

With already tense situation in the state it was no surprise that state appointed interlocutors appointed to talk to the Maoists came away with little result. Though Sujato Bhadra, one of the interlocutors has stressed: "The dialogue is on and will continue," talks seem to be making little headway. 

The state government has asked the Centre for two additional battalions of paramilitary forces, clearly signalling that it is reaching the end of its patience, and a showdown could be on the cards sooner rather than later. 

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