Lalgarh: As Maoists got bolder and bolder in Lalgarh, trying to make it another Nandigram and refusing to back down, the West Bengal government and the Central government on Thursday decided to crack down.
Armed forces marched in to round up the Maoists but they faced crowds of angry villagers and had to break through roadblocks in the way of the police and the CRPF.
The battle to reclaim Lalgarh has begun and this is the final warning to protesting villagers to disperse but the crowds were in no mood to give in, forcing the soldiers to fire tear gas shells.
The first barricade was broken and there seemed to be no halt to the march to Lalgarh after trying to calm the situation without force for three days.
The West Bengal government on Thursday finally launched a counter offensive against the Maoists.
Their objective was to end the seize to get control of Lalgarh where Maoists have gone on a rampage targeting CPM cadres and leaders, destroying their homes and party offices and setting up barricades to block police entry.
As the state operations began three more bodies of CPM activists were found. It will be a tough battle because of the human barricades and the route strewn with huge felled trees.
"We will not allow the security forces to pass. They cannot drive over our bodies," said a villager.
After search operations and warnings the soldiers moved on but at Pirakata village the security forces ran into gunfire.
A taut operation that lasted almost 30 minutes, several arms were seized and at least seven persons arrested. Dusk brought the operation to a halt.
The security forces are camping at Pirakata on Thursday night -- a night that promises to be tense with reports of villagers planning to surround the camp. Lalgarh is still 12 kilometres away.