KOLKATA: After having successfully established their strongholds in West Midnapore, Bankura and Puruliya districts of West Bengal, the Maoist forces for the past one year have concentrated on establishing their network in the closed tea gardens in north Bengal.

The rebel group is utilising the poverty of the people to shore up their base in the area. The Intelligence Branch (IB) of the West Bengal police has recently submitted a report to the state home department stating that the Maoist forces are gathering strength by roping in workers of the closed tea gardens under the banner of "Majdoor Kishan Sangharsh Samity" (Worker-Farmer Conflict Committee).

According to the report, the group is inducting locals for advanced guerrilla ambush training. Confirming the receipt of the report, state home secretary Prasad Ranjan Roy said the state government will take all possible steps to tackle the problem.

The areas where the Maoist groups have strengthened their network are Malkani, Kalchini, Bamandanga and Raymatang among others. Sources in the IB informed DNA that a four-member high-powered Maoist cell has been given the responsibility to organise their network among the workers of the closed tea gardens. 

According to an IB official, the police gathered the information from secret Maoist documents discovered recently from a residence at the Malkani area.

"The intention is clear. The Maoists are trying to use the ire of the workers against the tea garden owners for organising and strengthening their network in the region," he said.