The Trinamool Congress has recently alleged that there were 59 armed camps in West Bengal being operated by the Marxists, a charge vehemently denied by the CPI-M.
The Centre today said it has information about the existence of several armed camps in West Bengal and cadres of these camps roaming around with weapons and hoped that the state government would take necessary action to rein them in.
"I think generally it is agreed that there are some camps in some parts of West Bengal and there are cadres on these camps who carry arms," Home Minister P Chidambaram said when asked about allegation of Marxist cadres operating camps in the Left-ruled state.
The Trinamool Congress has recently alleged that there were 59 armed camps in West Bengal being operated by the Marxists, a charge vehemently denied by the CPI-M.
Addressing a press conference, the Home Minister said law and order was a state subject and the Central government's duty was to bring into the notice of the West Bengal government the issue and ask them to take appropriate action.
"I hope the government of West Bengal will look into the matter of these armed camps in West Bengal," he said.
Asked whether there was any setback in the talks with the Maoists, Chidambaram said there was never any progress in the direction of talks and therefore there was no setback as such.
"I think the situation remains the same. Our offer remains. It remains on the table. If the CPI (Maoist) abjure violence, we are prepared to hold talks with them. But we have not received any credible response to that offer," he said.
On whether dialogue would bring a solution to the issue, the home minister said "I can't say that the talks will resolve the issue. But we can't refuse talks on that assumption. We have to talk and hope that talks will resolve the issue".
Asked whether the Court of Inquiry ordered to probe the April 6 Dantewada incident, in which nearly 80 security personnel were killed, had fixed the responsibility on the dead people, Chidambaram said a second court of inquiry has been ordered to fix individual responsibility.
"When that report comes we can take a final view. The first court of inquiry identified the lapses, the second one is underway to fix the individual responsibility. We will take action on the basis of both the report. If all the lapses are on the dead people, why would we appoint a second court of inquiry to fix responsibility," he said.
On the demand of conducting investigation into the killing of Maoist leader Azad, Chidambaram said as the Central government could not order a probe into such an incident, he had asked two delegations, that met him, to approach Andhra Pradesh government with the request.
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