National

Talks over Lalgarh agitation inconclusive

Lalgarh: Even as the agitation and siege by tribals at Lalgarh in Paschim Medinipur entered its tenth day, a 12-hour bandh called by the SUCI in the adjacent area of Jhargram paralysed life. Some of the detained tribals have been released on bail.

While talks between the district-level administration and the leaders of tribal groups to break the deadlock and lift the road blockade at various points remained inconclusive, there were indications that the agitation may spread to fresh areas. However many of the agitators were resenting any attempt to label them as Maoists saying that it was their own agitation against the State government.

Local tribals have been on a warpath with the State government alleging police excesses in wake of the November 2 IED blast on the convoy of Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee , Union Steel Minister Ram Vilas Paswan, and brothers Navin and Sajjan Jindal . The police picked up and have started cases against some tribals which triggered a protest over harassment of men and women in the name of raids and searches. Bail was given to five of the 10 people against whom charges were being pressed by the Criminal Investigation Department. The agitators were demanding release of all those detained by the police. Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee, during a meeting at Singur, expressed her solidarity with the agitation.

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