Faced with renewed violence by the Maoists, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday described them as more "dangerous than terrorists" and warned that her government would not sit back and watch the bloodbath.
"You cannot talk peace and kill people. We cannot sit back and watch. We have to maintain law and order. We cannot suck our fingers when the killings go on," Mamata said a day after the Maoists offered to extend their unilateral ceasefire offer by four months if the operation by Joint Forces was kept suspended for the same period.
She said the Maoists were more dangerous than terrorists.
However, she said, "I still feel good sense will prevail on them and they will come back to the mainstream. If they come to the mainstream, the state government will take responsibility. It is a duty of the government to give protection to people."
The chief minister was speaking at meeting to condole the killing of two Trinamool supporters by the Maoists at Balarampur in Purulia district on November 14.
She said some people were helping the Maoists with money and shelter.
"The government is keeping a watch on them," she said and urged people to stay vigilant about their activities, particularly in Uttarpara in Hoogly district and activities of some students of universities like the Jadavpur University.
"I know all people are not bad, but you must keep a watch," Banerjee said.
