Centre mum on state's letter against withdrawal of CRPF from Jangalmahal

Kolkata: The Centre is yet to give any reply to the state government's letter opposing the former's plan of withdrawing more companies of the Central Forces from Jangalmahal.

Sources said that the Centre had written to the state stating the plan of withdrawing three more companies of the forces from Jangalmahal. In reply to it, the state government had cleared its stand, opposing the move of withdrawing more companies of forces from the area that was once Maoist infested.

According to the sources, the Centre has not given any reply to the state in this connection yet. It has been learnt that the plan for withdrawing around three more companies of the forces was mooted to deploy the same in Chattisgarh.

It may be mentioned that with various steps taken up by the Mamata Banerjee government, peace has been restored in Jangalmahal and there is "no Maoist disturbances" in Bengal at present. But the state government opposed the move of withdrawing three companies of Central forces from the area, a major part of which shares border with Chattisgarh and Jharkhand. "In a bid to maintain peace in the area, it is important to carry out proper vigilance, which would not be possible if the Central Forces are withdrawn," sources said.

To ensure an overall development of the Jangalmahal area, the state government has ensured creation of Jhargram as a separate district out of West Midnapore. The development work has been carried out in full swing in Purulia, Jhargram, West Midnapore and Bankura in the past seven years and many Maoist activists have returned to normal lives.