West Bengal CM Mamata terms Maoists to be criminals

Kolkata, Nov. 16 (ANI): West Bengal Chief Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday issued a stern warning to the Maoists and termed the ultras to be criminals

Activists of regional Trinamool Congress Party in West Bengal today took out funeral procession of two of their colleagues who were killed by Maoists, through the streets of Kolkata.

Suspected Maoists gunned down the duo, incidentally brothers, in Purulia district recently.

Hundreds of TMC members and relations of the deceased took part in the procession.

Later addressing the mourners, Banerjee termed the ultras as criminals and consoled the under-teen aged son of one of the slain TMC activists.

"His father and brother were killed. There are some people here who do not protest even if people get killed, but when the killers are caught, we have to organise press conference, and give their families compensation. Because of such people, it has become a selfish society," she said.

Banerjee further the people, who back Maoists are also criminals.

"Crime cannot be discriminated. Anybody who is allowing them knowingly to carry out the criminal activities, are also criminals," she added.

Banerjee also announced an ex-gratia amount of rupees five lakhs along with a job for the deceased's next of kin.

Stating that the Naxals are the worst violators of human rights, Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram had earlier on Tuesday said that the people at large need to understand that the rebels are involved in widespread cases of human rights violation.

Despite strong initiatives taken by the Centre, the Maoist insurgency has gripped nearly one-third of the country, spreading into the interiors of 20 states of the country. (ANI)