Jharkhand-Bengal police hold high-level meet

Senior police officers from West Bengal and Jharkhand held a high-level meeting in Purulia on Thursday to restrain occasional movement of Maoist activists across the border of the two states.

Sources said top officers of the state police held a meeting with the top brass of CRPF in Bankura a few days ago.

In the meeting, the senior police officers had discussed on the issue of cross border movement of two particular squads of the Maoists. Thus, they felt the need of immediate meeting with the Jharkhand police.

Though peace prevails in the area in Bengal where once Maoists had created havoc, still Maoists have certain areas in Jharkhand under their control and it is a cause of concern for Bengal police as the areas are located close to the border of the two states. Taking advantage of the forests in the areas, the Maoists leaders and activists occasionally enters Bengal.

Sources said that the police had received information that the members of the squads led by Maoist leaders Biren and Madan had crossed the border through a forest area to enter Bengal.

Though the police have ascertained their motive behind entering the state (that cannot be disclosed for the sake of investigation), it is important for the investigating officers to know their future plan of action.

Sources said that in Thursday’s meeting the top officers of police from both the states have discussed the methods that can be taken up to check the cross border movement of the Maoists.

The police have also identified the villages in Purulia and West Midnapore where the Maoists activists had suspected to have taken shelter. Thus, the decision has been taken to increase the vigil in the bordering area.