Addressing the members of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly on the opening day of the Budget Session today, Narayanan said the government has once again started work on income generation and development schemes in West Midnapore, the district worst affected by the Maoist menace.

In his 45-minute speech, the Governor began with the security problems faced by the state as a result of the Maoist activities in three districts and political clashes in other parts of the state. He admitted that the spread of LWE in West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia has been facilitated by their geographical proximity to the affected areas of Jharkhand and Orissa.

Narayanan said since June 2009, the state police, along with the CRPF and BSF, entered Lalgarh and had taken charge of a large area, which was earlier controlled by the extremists.

“The joint forces have dominated the area, restored the authority of the thanas, arrested more than 450 people, including members of the armed squads, and recovered arms,” the Governor said.

Though the joint forces have achieved success, Narayanan said the extremists have retreated to the forest and carried on with killing innocent villagers, operating during night in the fringe areas where security forces are not present.

Describing the attack on the EFR’s Silda camp as an unfortunate incident, Narayanan said it has only increased the resolve to fight the Maoist menace. He said the state government has created the new police district of Jhargram and has posted senior officers to supervise operations. All policemen in the LWE-affected areas have been allowed a risk allowance, the staff strength in the thanas has been increased, the thana buildings are being fortified with boundary walls, concerte fences and watch towers, he said.

“The thana staff have been specially trained in counter-insurgency operations,” the Governor said. He also expressed concern over the ongoing agitation in the Hills led by the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha. He said the state government has not accepted the demand for a separate state but has agreed to enhance the powers of Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council or anything that can replace the Council. “Four rounds of talks have been held but no solution has yet emerged. Given the sensitive nature of the issues involved and the strategic importance of the area, the state government favours a political solution,” the Governor said.