Maoists, security forces fight gun battle in Lalgarh
By IANSSunday, May 23, 2010
KOLKATA - Maoist guerrillas and joint security forces exchanged heavy firing in trouble-torn Lalgarh of West Bengal’s West Midnapore district Sunday.
“An encounter took place between the Maoists and the security forces near the Bakisol forest. There are no reports of casualties or arrests,” said West Midnapore Superintendent of Police Manoj Verma.
The gun battle happened close to the spot between Ramgarh and Pingboni where the Leftwing guerrillas had triggered a landmine blast, killing five Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) troopers May 19.
The joint forces have been deployed in the area for over 11 months to flush out Maoist guerrillas, who had earlier turned Lalgarh into a virtual free zone by torching police camps and driving out the civil administration for about seven months.
