Click to play videoKolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's tightrope walk with the Naxals continues. Just days after announcing programmes and reforms in the Jangalmahal area to wean people away from the ultras - she has set the stage for talks with Naxals by announcing the release of two top Naxal leaders - Chandi Sarkar and Pradip Chatterjee. The government has also decided to release 50 other political prisoners.
Mamata Banerje said, "We had got a list of 78 political prisoners out of this we are releasing 52. Later on we well review more names and release more prisoners."
Mamata's decision puts the onus on the Naxals - with whom six state-appointed interlocuters meet for peace talks for the first time on Friday.
State Appointed Interlocutor Sujato Bhodro said, "the release of the prisoners will encourage talks. And I can say that the signs from their end is also encouraging."
Prisoners may have been released, but a sticking point remains the withdrawal of joint forces from the Jangalmahal area.
"We are ready for talks but the government has to free all political prisoners and remove joint forces from Jangalmahal," said Telegu Deepak, Naxal leader.
Even though Mamata Banerjee has said a categorical 'no' to withdrawing of joint forces for the time being, the release of the Naxal leaders who have got the political prisoner status might go far in brokering peace in Jangalmahall. But many fear that move might compromise India's battle with it's biggest internal security threat.
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