Banerjee asked the government to initiate a dialogue with the Maoists. She also demanded compensation for the kin of three tribals who died recently.

Banerjee announced that her party supports the cause of the adivasis against the government and their various demands for which they had been spearheading an agitation under the banner of ‘Police Santras Birodhi Jaganer Committee’ (public committee against police atrocities) since November last year.

Before her visit, district Superintendent of Police Rajesh Singh, in a letter to the TMC leaders, had dissuaded Banerjee from visiting the area citing security reasons. Turning down the request, Banerjee went to Khasjangal, leaving her police escort at Lalgarh police station on Wednesday.

Banerjee said although she was not called by the tibals, the killing of three of them has prompted her to visit the place. She alleged that the CPM had deliberately attacked and killed the tribals.

“Their game plan was to capture the tribals by muscle power as the red brigade tried to do in Nandigram in 2007. We are all for the cause of the tribals,” she said.

Banerjee wondered how Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee has not yet come down to Lalgarh to speak to the tribals. She demanded Rs 5 lakh for the next of kin of those killed, Rs 3 lakh to each of the injured and Rs 1 lakh to those whose houses were torched or damaged.

She criticised the CPM for grabbing money meant for developmental activities and failing to ensure jobs to the poor tribals under the NREGA. “What is the harm in opening a dialogue with the Maoists, particularly when they have not been banned,” she asked.