The intelligence agencies have come across credible information that Maoist outfits operating in West Bengal are planning to target chief minister Mamata Banerjee. But she is not the only one: there are at least eight other senior Trinamul Congress leaders on the Naxalites’ hit list.
The list includes two ministers of state at the Centre, Mukul Roy and Sisir Kumar Adhikari, as well as Lok Sabha MP Suvendu Adhikari. It also includes five Trinamul MLAs: Sukumar Hansda, who happens to be a state minister, Srikanta Mahato, Dulal Murmu, Chudamani Mahato and Shantiram Mahato.
[A report from Kolkata adds: The Maoists have put up posters in some areas threatening they would kill state food minister Jyotipriya Mullick if all recently-opened ration shops in Jangalmahal are not immediately shut down.]
The information developed by the state intelligence bureau has now been shared with the Centre. IB sources said this was gleaned from “credible sources” in the Naxal-infested areas of Jangalmahal, Bankura, West Midnapore and Purulia.
“The Naxals in West Bengal want to have at least one major strike to send out a symbolic message that they are still dominant and going strong. There is specific information that they want to target the CM’s convoy with explosives,” a top official said.
Sources said the Centre had taken the threat perception extremely seriously, and is examining the inputs. It has been decided that Ms Mamata Banerjee’s security cover will be beefed up considerably, specially when she travels outside Kolkata.
The Maoists are said to be upset over the failure of peace talks and their inability to strike a deal with the government.