Maoists lying low to strike all over again

Maoists are in West Midnapore are lying low due to heavy mobilisation of central security forces for the ongoing assembly polls. However, many in the region say that the rebels are hiding in the forests waiting for the forces to retreat.

The most dominant political party of the area CPI(M) seems to be living in denial of the existence of Maoists in the region. “We have no time to talk to media,’’ D Sarkar, CPI(M)’s old war horse, told DNA when asked for comments on allegations of armed CPI(M) cadres abetting violence.

The SP of West Midnapore MK Verma disagrees with Sarkar. “No. It is not so quiet, like political parties would like to believe. They [Maoists] are very active and only waiting for the central forces to withdraw,’’ Verma told DNA. However, CPI(M) candidate A Basu campaigning in Jhargram would have convinced many that all is not well.