Peace initiative with Maoists to continue, say Bengal interlocutors

Interlocutors appointed by the West Bengal government to broker peace with Maoists Saturday said they will continue the peace initiative at the request of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

"We discussed at length with Banerjee various issues and she has asked us to continue the peace initiatives. It is a time taking process and needs several rounds of talks before getting a result," said right activist Sujato Bhadra who heads the team of interlocutors.

The interlocutors earlier had given a letter to Banerjee urging they be relieved of the responsibility of the peace dialogue after the joint security forces resumed anti-rebel operations following the killings of two Trinamool Congress leaders by the Maoists.

"Yes, we had made such a request but now we feel there is need for peace and all the stakeholders, be it the people or the government want peace. Accordingly we have been told to continue the talks,” Choton Das, another of the interlocutors, told IANS.

Earlier the Maoists, putting the onus of peace talks on the government, called off the mutual cease fire, and following it up with the killing of the two local Trinamool leaders in Balrampur area of Purulia district.

Enraged by the killing, Banerjee signalled the resumption of counter offensive operation by the forces in the Maoist affected areas of the state which resulted in the killings of two rebels Nov 15.