'Maoists establish corridor from Nepal through Bihar'

KOLKATA, Friday (PTI) Maoist guerrillas, who launched an offensive in some districts in West Bengal, have joined hands with their counterparts in Nepal and established a corridor through Bihar, West Bengal Chief Minister, Buddhadev Bhattacharjee, said.

Maoists, originating in Andhra Pradesh, had struck in Bankura and Purulia last week and fled to Jharkhand taking advantage of the difficult terrain of forests and hills, he said while replying to a debate on the budget of Home (Police) Department in the Assembly.

The ultras have joined hands with Maoists in Nepal and established a corridor through Madhubani in Bihar, he said.

The Chief Minister said they were operating in Bankura, Purulia and West Midnapore through Jharkhand. It was not possible to seal West Bengal's border with Jharkhand because of jungles and hills, he said. He said it was necessary that neighbouring states should also deal with these extremist elements with determination and a clear cut policy.

Observing that the recent merger of CPI-ML(PW) and MCC to form the Communist Party of India (Maoist) had added a new dimension to their anti-state activities, Bhattacharjee said his government was trying to counter the threat by taking a series of administrative measures including sustained combing operations. Steps had also been initiated to undertake specific development projects in these three districts, he said.