WB govt resents RPF checks at Mamata's Lalgarh rally

Kolkata: Taking exception to the "checks" conducted by RPF personnel in some areas in Lalgarh en route to the Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee's rally, the West Bengal government on Monday took up the issue with the Union Home Ministry.

"The state government's attention has been drawn to checks by RPF personnel in some areas of Lalgarh where we deployed the CRPF with the permission of the Union Home Ministry for heightened security. We have informed the MHA about this," Home Secretary Samar Ghosh told reporters.

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DGP Bhupinder Singh said 200 to 250 Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel made checks on routes leading to the rally venue in Lalgarh. "We objected to this and reported the matter to the Union Home Ministry.

"The RPF conducted checks and raids at Gherua, Manidaha, Chandra and Moutala without informing either the Centre or the state government. This is a blatant violation of jurisdiction which falls on the state government forces. After we complained to the IG, RPF, the personnel were withdrawn," he said.

To a question, Singh said that RPF personnel generally accompanied the Railway Minister in two or three vehicles. "But today, there were 200-250 RPF personnel."

Asked why Maoist-backed People's Committee Against Police Atrocities leader Manoj Mahato was not arrested when he was present at the Lalgarh rally, the DGP said that police did not find him.

Singh said that prohibitory orders lifted for the rally at Lalgarh, would be automatically reimposed.

Asked if the Trinamool Congress supremo wanted to hold more such rallies in Maoist strongholds, the DGP said since she enjoyed Z-plus security category, the state government would have to think of her security.

"For her security, the state government has sought a helicopter from the Centre for aerial survey," he said.

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The DGP said that on her way back to Kolkata, Banerjee's convoy was stuck in a traffic jam near Bhadutala for some time due to the presence of rallyists.

"This was the area where Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee's convoy was attacked by the Maoists on his way back from Salboni a few years ago," he pointed out.