Yesterday, Kishenji showed an open letter purportedly addressed to the Trinamool, saying he was willing to sit for talks provided Mamata Banerjee or her representatives came to Jangalmahal without police escorts.

Recently, Banerjee had held a rally in Maoist-affected Jhargram during which she had called upon the Maoists to give up arms and sit for talks. She had even offered to mediate between the Centre and the Maoists.

Meanwhile, the state government has put the ball in the Centre’s court on the issue. “The Central government has a role to play. We are trying to get a copy of the open letter. Then, we will ascertain its authenticity,” said state Home Secretary Ardhendu Sen.

“What can we say on this? We learnt it from the media that Kishenji had sent an open letter to us. They (Maoists) have not written to us officially. Let them write to us officially,” said Trinamool’s Partho Chatterjee, who is the leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly.

Union Minister of State for Shipping Mukul Roy, also from Trinamool, refused to comment.

Trinamool sources said the party wants to buy time before committing on talks with the Maoists.

“We will wait and watch for some time. We had asked them to lay down arms which they have refused. We will have to see whether it will give out a correct political message if we sit with them with their arms intact,” said a senior Trinamool leader.

In the purported letter, Kishenji is also said to have criticised Banerjee, saying her intentions for the cause of the tribal people are doubtful.

He also slammed the Trinamool for violence in the state, saying party cadres had murdered its opposition in some parts of Bengal, including Bhangor in South 24-Parganas.