Mamata Banerjee appeals Centre to stop anti-Maoist operation in West Bengal

Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee today appealed the Centre to halt anti-Maoist operations in the state alleging that the ruling CPI(M) was "conducting its own operation" in its garb.

"I urge the Centre to stop the joint-operations because in its name the CPI(M) is conducting its own operations. I will meet prime minister Mammohan Singh and appeal to him. He is a good man. I believe he will listen," Banerjee told a rally in Kolkata.

It was held to mark 'Martyrs Day' to commemorate the 13 Youth Congress workers killed in police firing on this day in 1993. Banerjee had then been the Youth Congress president.

Atrocities were being committed on tribals in the name of joint-operations at the behest of the CPI(M), she alleged.

The CPI(M) was supplying arms to party cadres in the name of joint-operations and setting up camps in Lalgarh and Salboni to terrorise people, Banerjee claimed.