Chidambaram calls for end to violence at Lalgarh

September 24th, 2009 LALGARH - Two local leaders of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) were killed by suspected Maoists near Lalgarh. According to police, Maoists abducted Nemai Bishayi and Samir Singha Mahapatra late last night from a party meeting in Harimara village.

July 31st, 2009 LALGARH - Maoists provoked Lalgarh villagers to protest against the deployment of security forces since they reclaimed the Maoist held 'liberated zone.' The Maoists were evicted from the trouble-torn Lalgarh region at June 20 after an almost week-long joint operation by the State and Centre's elite security forces. But the villagers have continued protests since, demanding the security forces to retreat to normal days, a move which officials apprehend is a ploy to give the Maoists a foothold again.

July 30th, 2009 KOLKATA - As Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee accused the CPI (M) of committing atrocities in West Bengal for political gains, politburo Member Sitaram Yechuri has charged the Trinamool Congress of seeking Centre's intervention to legalize its violent acts against the communist party. "We have brought it to the their notice (Centre) that in the name of the Maoists the atrocities are going on with the children, students and the common people and the Maoists are not even been arrested by the state government.

June 26th, 2009 LALGARH - Authorities in Lalgarh village of West Bengal, which was recently liberated by the police from the Maoists, have set up relief camps to provide rations to the besieged residents. Hundreds of villagers were seen queued up outside the relief camps set at block office.

June 26th, 2009 KANDHMAL - Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram on Friday criticised the Orissa State police over its failure to contain the "regrettable and condemnable" Kandhamal violence for over a month in August, last year.

June 26th, 2009 LALGARH J - The security forces today started fresh offensive operation to flush out the Maoist activists from the trouble hit Lalgarh in West Midnapore District of West Bengal. The joint operation by the paramilitary forces and the West Bengal State Police against the Maoists in Lalgarh area has entered the ninth day.

June 21st, 2009 NEW DELHI - Union Home Minister P Chidambaram has cautioned all the politicians from visiting West Bengal's Lalgarh area, where security forces are fighting to clear a Maoist siege, as it is "sensitive" and "tense". "The situation in Lalgarh is sensitive and continues to be tense.

June 21st, 2009 NEW DELHI - With combing operations against Maoists in Lalgarh reaching a critical stage, Home Minister P. Chidambaram Sunday appealed to political leaders and NGOs not to venture to the conflict zone in West Bengal.

June 20th, 2009 NEW DELHI - A day after Home Minister P. Chidambaram said the West Bengal government should ban the leftist extremist outfit, Communist Party of India-Maoist, which has entrenched itself in the state's Lalgarh area, state Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said here Saturday that his Left government would give the matter "serious thought".

June 20th, 2009 NEW DELHI - West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and Home Minister P. Chidambaram here to discuss Lalgarh issue today.

June 19th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) politburo met here Friday to discuss the Maoist violence in Lalgarh in West Bengal, problems in the party's Kerala unit and the debacle in the Lok Sabha elections. The party's top leaders, including the chief ministers of CPI-M-ruled states, are participating in the meeting.

June 19th, 2009 New Delhi, June 19 (ANI): Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram on Friday said the security forces would take more time than previously anticipated, though they were moving cautiously towards the Maoist claimed "liberated zone" in West Bengal state.

June 19th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram today asked the Maoists to lay down arms and come forward for negotiations.

June 17th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Home Minister P. Chidambaram has said the government is "worried about the consequences" of the violence in West Bengal where three activists of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) were killed by suspected Maoists Wednesday.

June 17th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Home Minister P. Chidambaram Wednesday said West Bengal must reclaim the Maoist-controlled region in the state even as the ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) hoped the central government would cooperate with it to check spiralling violence there.