Kolkata: The battle to reclaim Lalgarh begun on Thursday. The final warning was given 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 then there seemed to be no halt to the march to Lalgarh.
After trying to calm the situation without force for 3 days, the West Bengal government on Thursday finally launched a counter offensive against the Maoists.
Their objective: to end the siege, to get control of Lalgarh -- where Maoists have gone on a rampage targeting CPI(M) cadres and leaders, destroying their homes and party offices and setting up barricades to block police entry.
As the state operations began, news came that 3 more bodies of CPM activists have been found.
It will be a tough battle with human barricades and the route strewn with huge felled trees.
Says a villager: "We will not allow the security forces to pass. They cannot drive over our bodies."
After search operations and warnings, the soldiers move on. But at Pirakata village the security forces run into gunfire.
After a taut operation which lasted almost 30 minutes several arms are seized and at least 7 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.