24 June ; With the operations by security forces entering the fifth day on Wednesday to reclaim areas taken over by Maoist-backed tribals at Lalgarh in West Midnapore district, the West Bengal govt on Wednesday said that the situation was returning to normal.
"I think the situation is returning to normal in Lalgarh. I have talked to the local people. I have heard their grievances. I feel if we all work together, normalcy will return soon," West Bengal Chief Secretary Asok Mohan Chakraborty told newsmen at a helipad next to the Lalgarh police station.
Asked how long the operations would continue, Chakraborty said, "The forces are here. It will depend on them and their commanders. It is not for me to comment on."
Posed with the same question, IGP (Law and Order) Raj Kanojia said "the operations are on."
Asked why the operations did not appear to be visible, Kanojia said "We are not conducting operations to make it visible to you."With six truckloads of rice arriving, the chief secretary said from Thursday, besides rice, dal and potatoes would be provided free to displaced villagers and in relief camps for which the Block Developmetn Officer has been given instructions.
Maoists, Chakraborty said, were trying to pressurise the villagers to stay away from relief camps and rice distribution centres."I talked to the local people and asked them to defeat the designs of the Maoists," Chakraborty said.
During the visit of the chief secretary, who arrived by helicopter, thousands of people queued up at the BDO’s office for receiving six kilos of rice each."The people of the area suffered a lot. You can make out that they are in great difficulty," he said, adding that, people sought jobs, beside food and resumption of transport services.
"Development activities must be started as soon as possible. The prerequisite is to restore confidence in the law and order system. Maoists did not allow government offices, police and ration shops to function. We are trying to restore this," he said.
Asked for a time frame, he said, "It’s difficult to give any time frame as we have to deal with the villagers who are not our enemies. We have to take them into confidence. It is not possible to give any schedule."
Asked about the alleged harassment by police, the chief secretary said that the forces have been repeatedly warned not to indulge in activity that might harm villagers.
"The state and central forces have arrived in the interest of villagers and not against them. This must be kept in mind by all," the chief secretary said.
"There is no rift with villagers. Today also I told them to be very cautious in dealing with villagers."Chakraborty also said, "if we get definite information or complaints, we will take strong action."
Asked if lack of development had led to the agitation by tribals, he said, "if certain sections did not deliver, this is not the way to press demands."Killing doctors and nurses, is it protest?" he asked referring to the blowing up of an ambulance in Belpahari by the Maoists in the district in November last year when a doctor and nurse were killed.
"Anyway, we are trying to start with a clean slate."The chief secretary, accompanied by DGP (Coordination) arrived after visiting adjoining Purulia and Bankura districts.
In Lalgarh he held a meeting at the BDO’s office with officials and visited the CRPF camp at Ramkrishna Vidyapeeth.
Chakraborty also went to the block hospital and met patients.He said that health services were being augmented and the hospital would have an air-conditioned ward with 12 beds.Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee had instructed for augmenting health services, he said.