Thaindian News

Lalgarh, June 17 (IANS) Maoist guerrillas have killed 325 people, as also 37 policemen, in the one year since the launch of Operation Lalgarh June 18, 2009 to flush out the Left-wing ultras from parts of West Bengal’s West Midnapore district, figures released Thursday show.
According to facts and figures released to the media by the district police, 698 Maoist cadres and members of their associate tribal body Peoples’ Committee Against Police Atrocities (PCAPA) have been arrested.

The major strikes by the ultras include the May 28 Gyaneshwari Express tragedy in which 148 persons were killed. The left radicals also abducted two police personnel.

However, West Midnapore Superintendent of Police Manoj Verma said though only 20 bodies of the rebels were recovered, quite a high number of Maoist cadres were killed by the security personnel in gun battles at various spots.

Verma admitted that the rebels looted 81 licensed guns from the villagers, apart from snatching 60 sophisticated arms from policemen after killing them.

On the other hand, the police have recovered 1,000 rounds of ammunition, 146 arms and defused 185 Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).

The joint forces comprising 27 companies of central paramilitary troopers and 20 companies of state police were fighting the Maoists since the beginning of the Lalgarh operation.