Security forces moved into Lalgarh on June 18 to end the three-day siege of the place by Maoists, who have gone on a rampage targeting CPI(M) cadres. Agitating tribals of West Midnapore and adjoining areas have been protesting against the police atrocities on them in the wake of the landmine blast at Salboni, which was believed to target Chief Minister Bhattacharya. Under the banner of People's Committee against Police Atrocities, they have dug up roads and even supposedly laid landmines to stop the security forces.

The Union government deployed 500 CRPF personnel, including 200 personnel of the elite COBRA trained in anti-Maoist operations, to deal with the situation1. CM Bhattacharjee meanwhile on June 20 stated that his government would give a serious thought to the central government’s suggestion to ban the CPI-Maoists2.

Investigators informed a court in New Delhi on June 19 that Mohd Omar Madni, a suspected militant had disclosed about the links between Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and Maoists in Jharkhand. The court was told that Madni was acting as a conduit for LeT and was providing training to recruits in PoK. Madni, a resident of Bihar who acquired Nepalese citizenship, was arrested on June 4 from Delhi and produced before the court after the completion of 14 days in police custody3.

In other developments, eleven CRPF personnel and policemen were killed and 11 injured when Maoists triggered a landmine blast in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada district on June 21. The Maoists ambushed a 60-member police party returning in three trucks from Kokawada4. Nine personnel of the Orissa Special Strike Force were also killed in a landmine blast triggered by Maoists in Koraput district in Orissa on June 185.

• 1. “Crackdown on Maoists begins in Lalgarh,” Hindu, June 18, 2009, at http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/000200906181003.htm
• 2. ‘We will give serious thought to banning Maoists: Buddhadeb,” Hindu, June 21, 2009, at http://www.hindu.com/2009/06/21/stories/2009062156590100.htm
• 3. “Madni reveals LeT, Maoists link,” Daily Excelsior, June 21, 2009, at http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/web1/09june20/news2.htm#1
• 4. “11 security personnel killed in ambush,” Hindu, June 21, 2009, at http://www.hindu.com/2009/06/21/stories/2009062155960100.htm
• 5. “Maoists kill nine policemen in Orissa,” Hindu, June 19, 2009, at http://www.hindu.com/2009/06/19/stories/2009061957410100.htm