Lalgarh (PTI): The central para-military forces, conducting operation to flush out Maoists from Lalgarh along with police, will stay till this month end if the Centre wants, West Bengal government said on Sunday.

"We want the central force to be here till July end. If the central government agrees to it, they will stay," Home Secretary Ardhendu Sen told reporters during a visit here where the operation entered the 17th day on Sunday.

"The joint operations will continue till normalcy is restored," he said.

On whether the state would be requiring more forces, he said, "We are not seeking more forces. This is sufficient."

"No, no NSG (National Security Guard) help was sought," Mr. Sen said to another query.

Altogether 16 companies of forces including BSF, CRPF, specialised anti-Maoist force COBRA, state armed police, IRB and EFR are engaged in the operation here.

Asked whether Maoists are still there in Lalgarh, he said, "They fired on our forces even yesterday."

Mr. Sen said the People's Committee against Police Atrocities (PCPA) chief Chhatradhar Mahto would be arrested whenever he would be sighted. "Mahto is very much here in Lalgarh but he could not be tracked down as yet."

Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee had said last week that Mahto would be arrested for helping the Maoists in Lalgarh though he was not organisationally with them.

The chief secretary said various schemes were being taken for the tribal belt of Midnapore, Purulia and Bankura districts for their socio economic development.

"We have to identify the problems and deal with them on a priority basis," he said, adding six senior officers would be coming to the area shortly to initiate the projects.

The State government has recently revived a task force for development of the western region with secretaries of various departments concerned as members. Officials of those departments have reached Lalgarh a few days ago.

The administration would also have to fill up vacancies of different departments unless it would be difficult to implement the schemes, Mr. Sen said.

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