Operation Lalgarh: Difference between revisions

'''Operation Lalgarh''' was an armed operation in India against the [[Maoist]]s who have been active in organising an armed tribal movement alongside a group called the People's Committee Against Police Atrocities (PCAPA). The operation is organised by the police and security forces in [[Lalgarh (Midnapore)|Lalgarh]], [[Paschim Medinipur]], [[West Bengal]] to restore law and order in the area and flush out the Maoists.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/operation-lalgarh-begins-human-walls-stormed/478694/|title=Operation Lalgarh begins, 'human walls' stormed|last=Nag Choudhury|first=Subrata|date=19 June 2009|access-date=2009-06-19}}</ref><ref name="securityhindu" /> The area of operation is said to be expanded to 18 police stations in the three Maoist-affected districts of [[Paschim Medinipur]], [[Bankura]] and [[Purulia]].<ref name="zee">{{cite news|url=http://www.zeenews.com/news540477.html|title=Security forces begin final push to end Lalgarh siege|date=19 June 2009|publisher=Zee News|access-date=2009-06-19}}</ref>

The Maoists called for a two long bandh starting from today in five states of India, including [[Bihar]], [[Jharkhand]], [[West Bengal]], [[Orissa, India|Orissa]] and [[Chhattisgarh]] to protest the re capturing of Lalgarh in West Bengal by security forces.<ref name="toi">{{cite news|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-06-22/india/28206778_1_maoists-blow-west-midnapore-district-maoists-in-west-bengal|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110318064014/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-06-22/india/28206778_1_maoists-blow-west-midnapore-district-maoists-in-west-bengal|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 March 2011|title=Maoists blow up anti-landmine vehicle as 48-hr bandh begins|date=22 June 2009|work=[[The Times of India]]|access-date=2009-06-22}}</ref> The security has been increased in these states and particularly in the three Maoist hit districts of West Bengal. Normal life was affected in the Midnapore district with a few buses plying on the road and most of the shops remained closed.<ref name="hindunormal">{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/000200906221115.htm|title=Normal life affected in three Maoist-hit WB districts|date=22 June 2009|work=The Hindu|access-date=2009-06-22|location=Chennai, India}}</ref> In Purulia district, train services remained suspended on the [[Purulia]]&nbsp;– [[Chandil]] section since 2:00 as a landmine was found planted on the tracks near Birandi station.<ref name="toi" /><ref name="hindunormal" /> Moreover, an anti-mine vehicle was affected in a landmine blast near Boramora jungle of [[East Singhbhum district]] in Jharkhand when the vehicle was on its way to Ghatshila which is bordering West Bengal.<ref name="toi" /><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?sectionName=Cricket&id=3cfb5d34-f18d-4726-b52e-a54ed87c6669&Headline=Maoist+strike+begins+in+Jharkhand+with+violence|title=Maoist strike begins in Jharkhand with violence|date=22 June 2009|work=Hindustan Times|access-date=2009-06-22}}{{dead link|date=August 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

The forces patrolled the already claimed area in Lalgarh and discovered several IEDs and landmines.<ref name="majoroffensive">{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2009/06/29/stories/2009062957030100.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090630162226/http://www.hindu.com/2009/06/29/stories/2009062957030100.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=30 June 2009|title=Security forces all set for major offensive in Lalgarh|date=29 June 2009|access-date=2009-06-29|work=[[The Hindu]]|location=Chennai, India}}</ref> Two persons were arrested from Sarenga in adjoining Bankura district when planting land mines between Belepole and Kargil More.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?sectionName=Cricket&id=5b9092db-574e-47be-a6b8-cabafa5b8cf0&Headline=Lalgarh+final+assault+today|title=Lalgarh final assault today|last=Ghosh|first=Debdatta|author2=Rakeeb Hossain|date=29 June 2009|work=Hindustan Times|access-date=2009-06-29}}{{dead link|date=August 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> Explosives, detonators and firearms were recovered from them.<ref name="majoroffensive" /> Maoists also fired at around 01:30 IST from the jungles behind the police camp housed in Ramgarh High School taking advantage of the power cut in the area.<ref name="hitnrun">{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090629/jsp/bengal/story_11172249.jsp|title=Hit-&-run on CRPF camp|date=29 June 2009|work=The Telegraph|access-date=2009-06-29}}</ref> However, the force switched on their search lights and fired back, making the Maoists to retreat back.<ref name="hitnrun" />

*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100822171003/http://www.hinduonnet.com/2009/06/26/stories/2009062659761000.htm Report on Lalgarh by Praveen Swami, an award winning journalist]

[[Category:History of West Bengal (1947–present)]]