Taking its first difficult political call, the new UPA government at the Centre has decided to send five companies of the Central Reserve Police Force to the troubled Lalgarh area of West Midnapore district of West Bengal where armed Maoists have been on a rampage.
Following a request for central forces by the state government, the Centre ordered five companies to move into the area where the Naxalites have completely overpowered the state police and unleashed a series of attacks on the government administration and local leaders of the CPI(M).
What has complicated the situation in the state is that the CPI(M) was being attacked in some other areas by supporters of Trinamool Congress which has become increasingly assertive ever since its triumphant showing in the recent general elections.
While deciding to send the CRPF, the concern in the home ministry was that, in the name of controlling the situation in Lalgarh, the state government might be tempted to use these forces to crack down on Trinamool supporters creating a difficult situation for the government at the Centre.
Sources said the Centre was not pleased with the role of the state police in the recent violence in the state. The state police had not just been proved to be completely ineffective against the Naxalites, in some places it was also seen to be inactive.
However, given the volatile situation in the state, the Centre had little option but to send in para-military forces as requested by the state government.
Accordingly, five companies of the CRPF stationed at Sindri in Bihar have been ordered to move into West Bengal. The forces are expected to start moving by this evening and reach Lalgarh area by tomorrow morning, sources said.