Ramgarh: After a six-kilometre march, security forces reached Ramgarh in West Bengal on Saturday. It is major breakthrough in the security forces' operation to flush the Maoists out of Lalgarh area of.
The forces broke through a Maoist-infested area and arrived to a warm welcome by the people in Ramgarh. The police outpost at Ramgarh had been burnt down by the Maoists on June 15 and had been abandoned by the police much earlier.
The forces' mandate is to restore state authority at Ramgarh, which is about 10 kilometres from Lalgarh. They had retaken command of Lalgarh town last Saturday.
Earlier, after reclaiming fresh territory from Maoists at Kadasole in West Midnapore district, the security forces began heading towards Mohultol village on the way to the Naxal stronghold of Ramgarh.
DIG CID (Special Operations Group), S N Gupta said the operations have entered a critical phase with resistance anticipated from Maoists and tribals under People's Committee against Police Atrocities (PCPA).
"The operations are likely to be serious today," he said.
On Friday, the security forces captured Kadasole after a 45-minute encounter. The forces are heading for Lalgarh from the north in the second phase of the offensive with the immediate destination being Ramgarh, a Maoist stronghold.
The operations were led by CRP Commandos, India Reserve Battalion, State Armed Police and state Rapid Action Force.