Lalgarh ‘not stable’ Maoists still influential: Union Home Minister

NEW DELHI: Noting that Maoists still have “pockets of influence” in Lalgarh, Government Saturday said the situation in the strife-torn area in West Bengal was not stable but maintained that paramilitary forces cannot be deployed there indefinitely.

Union Home Minister P Chidambaram said state police will have to take responsibilities for maintaining law and order in the Naxal-hit area in West Midnapore district.

“Seven weeks since the paramilitary forces were deployed at the request of state government in Lalgarh, the situation has still not stabilised.

Maoists still continue to have pockets of influence and suspected to be behind in some recent acts of violence,” he told reporters.

Chidambaram said the Centre has made it clear to the state government that paramilitary forces are available for deployment but “such deployment cannot be for indefinite period” and the state police has to take the responsibility of maintaining law and order.

On a separate Gorkhaland state, the minister said the Centre has invited Gorkha Janmukti Morcha for a tripartite discussion on August 11 to find a solution to the issue. PTI