The waiting game in Lalgarh

On day 4 of Operation Lalgarh, security forces are in the battleground. But there was no action on Sunday -- only strategizing. Forces realise that despite re-capturing the Lalgarh police station nothing can be taken for granted.

As the forces search the neighbouring Jhitka forest, Maoists have called for a 48-hour bandh starting midnight.

D R S Chaudhary, Additional Secretary, Naxal Management, says there is going to be a strike again on 22nd and 23rd June and that the state has been alerted.

Meanwhile, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram has also issued a warning: "I appeal to all citizens, especially political leaders, NGOs and others not to go to the conflict area."

Joint operations are clearly on for the long haul, but a team of social activists want a stop to these exercises. Actor-filmmaker Aparna Sen says, "Common people and villagers are caught in the crossfire. We want a stop to the operations and call for a dialogue."

This has irked the Left parties.

They have appealed to the Prime Minister asking him to stop such unnecessary utterances. Says CPM Politburo member Sitaram Yechury: "Civil society members visiting places in the past, as was the case with Nandigram, worsens the situation rather than improving it."