Maoist spokesman arrested in Kolkata

23 Jun 2009, 2301 hrs IST

Just minutes after a naxalite spoke to TIMES NOW , the government cracks down ordering the police to detain and arrest the spokesperson of the Maoists, Gour Chakraborty. The West Bengal government is now cracking down on Maoist sympathisers on a day it decided to comply with the Centre's ban. "Chakraborty was initially detained for interrogation this evening as he left a media office at Park Street after giving an interview. He was later put under arrest," Deputy Commissioner (Detective Department) in-charge of Headquarters Jawed Shamim said. A resident of Patuli, in the southern outskirts of the city, Chakraborty acted as the spokesperson of CPI (Maoist) which was banned by the Centre yesterday. Maoists were believed to be behind the tribal agitation at Lalgarh in West Midnapore district. But only hours before Gour Chakaorty was detained, the Maoist spokesperson told TIMES NOW that they were ready for talks with the Centre provided security forces were withdrawn from Lalgarh. In short, the Maoists are ready to strike a compromise, but with riders.