The West Bengal chief minister said that the Maoist leader was talking to 'hundreds of journalists every day' but despite this, it was difficult to catch him.
West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee today admitted that it was difficult to track down Maoist leader Kishenji despite his regular phone calls to prominent people, including state bureaucrats.
"We can identify the (mobile) tower but it is difficult to pin-point his location in that area," he told reporters here when asked about Kishenji's reported phone call to state's Principal Secretary (Environment) Madan Lal Meena to protest about polluting mines.
Bhattacharjee said the Maoist leader was talking to "hundreds of journalists every day" but despite this, it was difficult to catch him. Regarding the report about Meena's telephonic conversation with Kishenji, he said, "I have read it in the papers. I will have to talk to the officer as soon as I return" to Kolkata.
Asked about the CDs given by CPI(M) leaders to prime minister Manmohan Singh on joint meetings between Trinamool Congress and Maoist leaders, Bhattacharjee said, "he (PM) knows (about it). He is a knowledgeable man".
Observing that the issue of Maoist attacks cropped up during his discussions with the prime minister when he called on him yesterday, Bhattacharjee said he briefed Singh on the joint security operations being carried out by central and state paramilitary forces in some parts of West Bengal.
"We are facing some problems in getting to the deep forest areas or villages in the interior places where the Maoists are operating from. However, we have cleared main roads, police stations, shops and markets," Bhattacharjee said.
Noting that Jungalmahal was one area where security operations were facing problems, he said "We are in discussion with other (neighbouring) states". With the JMM-BJP claiming to form government in Jharkhand, the chief minister said he would hold talks with the new government for launching a joint anti-Maoist operation in the areas bordering the two states.
He exuded confidence that the people of the state were "fed up with the violence by Maoists. A majority does not support this, but they are afraid. Imagine how one would feel if his or her family member is picked up late at night and his body is found the next day on a road."
He urged the Trinamool Congress to start attending meetings called by district administrations in affected areas to restore peace and normalcy and said "the problem will not solve if they do not participate" in this effort.
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