This afternoon, four companies of armed police from both the states made a thrust at Gopillavpur bordering Mayurbhanj of Orissa. The operation was underway at the time of going to the press.

This is the first joint operation of the West Bengal police with forces of another state to flush out Naxals.

“We have started joint operations today at Gopib-allavpur. A lot of exchange of fire took place between us and the Maoists, who blasted a few landmines too. However, there have been no casualties or injuries on either side nor has there been any arrest,” West Midnapore SP Manoj Verma said.

The operation got rolling following a meeting between Mayurbhanj DIG and his counterpart in West Bengal at Midnapore yesterday.

Meanwhile, the state government is still waiting for a response from the Jharkhand government to its proposal for a joint operation. “Three weeks ago, we sent the proposal but no response has come so far. We are waiting for the political situation to settle down there,” a top police officer said.

The state government has also written to the Centre to send five-six companies of Central forces to reinforce the existing personnel. A few companies were relocated to Jharkhand during polls there.

The state government is also going to induct three companies of state armed police personnel who have received special training in jungle warfare and terrorist violence in Punjab. “They have received training in jungle warfare, map reading etc and they will be sent to Jungalmahal area soon,” the police officer said. DGP Bhupinder Singh is going to meet them tomorrow at Barrackpore, where they are camping now.