West Bengal: Police on high alert following suspicion of Maoist attack in next 15 days

Police are on high alert after a specific input by the central agency about a possible Maoist attack within 15 days in the Jungle Mahal area, which includes Bankura, Purulia, Jhargram and West Midnapore districts of West Bengal.

All leaves of police personnel have been cancelled by the Mamata government. The police officers on leave have been asked to join duty immediately. Political leaders, especially from TMC, have been advised not to venture after 6 pm and take personal security while going out during the day.

Police have suddenly stepped up vigil and naka checking around the jungle mahal area, especially bordering points. Police teams have been deployed at different points.

According to sources, Maoist commander Madan Mahato is leading the Maoists regrouping here. Madan is accompanied by his wife Java, who is leading the women in the group. According to a CRPF officer, suspicious movement along the Bengal-Jharkhand border has increased significantly over the past few days.

DGP Manoj Malviya visited these districts and took stock of the preparations. He has held meetings with top district police officials. However, no police officer is willing to talk about this on record. Even the TMC leaders in the Jungle Mahal area are not saying anything on record. But one of them, on condition of anonymity, said that they have been asked to finish outdoor work before sunset for the next 15 days.

BJP leaders in the area are aware of the police activity and the Maoist threat, but they have not been communicated by the state government. Kunar Hembram, the BJP MP from Jharkhand, said that they had learnt about the Maoist threat but the Bengal government did not tell anything to them because "they don't value the lives of BJP leaders".