Midnapore, April 3: Trinamul Congress leaders in West Midnapore have requested the district authorities to set up joint forces’ camps in some areas of Jungle Mahal for “protection against CPM terror”.

Mrigen Maity, the chairman of Trinamul’s district unit, said the party wanted the camps to be set up in Malbandi, Chandra and Enayetpur in Kotowali; Kashijora, Daho and Kalshibhanga in Salboni; and Jogardanga and Lalitpur in Goaltore.

“We have submitted a written request in this regard to district magistrate Surendra Gupta and police superintendent Manoj Verma. Armed CPM cadres have unleashed a reign of terror in these areas in the run-up to the elections. They are intimidating our workers,” Maity said.

Asked why the party was seeking the protection of the joint forces, whom they had earlier accused of being “in league” with the CPM, Maity said: “The joint forces personnel who were deployed in Jungle Mahal during the Lalgarh movement in 2008-09 had mixed freely with the CPM and were influenced by them. But now, the forces are working without bias as they are under the Election Commission’s supervision.”

He said that in the past few days, the joint forces had arrested several armed CPM cadres and seized illegal arms. “So we have faith in them now,” the Trinamul leader added.

Yesterday, Trinamul workers had demonstrated in front of Goaltore police station demanding that the camps be set up immediately.

Verma, the district police chief, said he had received Trinamul’s request. “We will set up camps according to our ability. The district now has 58 companies of CRPF personnel. More forces will arrive soon.”

Many CPM leaders and workers had fled their homes in Jungle Mahal in early 2009 in the face of Maoist attacks. But after the joint forces flushed out the rebels from the area last year, those who had fled started returning.

The CPM has been organising several processions and rallies in the area and reclaiming ground.