Maoists kill CPI-M leader in West Bengal - India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

Maoist rebels allegedly killed Tapan Dolui, a local Committee Secretary of Communist Party of India (Marxist) in West Midnapore district, accusing him of helping the police in establishing a new joint force camp near Dherua. Tapan Dolui's wife Madhabi said that around 10-12 armed Maoists entered their house on Tuesday night and took her husband away. "Maoists came and surrounded our house. We then went to the roof. They told us to come down and asked my husband's name and threatened if he does not come down they will fire or blast a landmine or burn our home," said Madhabi Dolui. "After that my husband went down to meet them and they took him away. There were around 10-12 people and everyone was carrying pistols," she added. Maoists had left some leaflets near the dead body of Tapan Dolui taking full responsibility of the murder. Union Home Minister P Chidambaram had on February 12 defended the use of force against Maoists, saying it was a legitimate right of the Government. He expressed confidence that the Centre would be able to get rid of the Maoist menace over the next four years; thereby assuring that once the areas are cleared from Maoist elements development work could be pursued expeditiously. Referring to the offer of talks made by the Centre to the Maoists recently, Chidambaram said, "Why aren't the Maoists making a simple statement that we abjure violence?" Maoist rebels on February 22 had offered a conditional 72-day ceasefire through media, and said that they are willing to talk to the government if it aborts Operation Green Hunt.