Lalgarh (West Bengal), June 29 Paramilitary forces have commenced their final assault on Maoist strongholds in West Bengal on Monday.

Latest reports coming in said that central and state security forces had surrounded the Maoist bastion at Katrapahari and they were in the process of beginning of a two pronged assault from the north and south to flush out the rebels.

Four companies of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Border Security Force (BSF) and the West Bengal Armed Reserve Police moved in the direction of Katapahari, from Kantahari and Ramgarh places that were captured on Friday and Saturday respectively.

Nearly 3,500 men have encircled Katrapahari village. The forces are said to be moving in V formation with the elite Commando Battalion for Retaliate Action (COBRA), clearing the dence forest of land mines. The operation is receiving aerial support.

Nearly 50 villages in and around Lalgarh in West Midnapore district have been declared out of bounds, to state authorities since November last year following an attempt on the life of Chief Minister Budhadeb Bhattacharjee and two union ministers.

The Maoist backed People's Committee Against Police Atrocities (PCAPA), has since established a virtual control over this area. The rebels have killed nearly 40 CPM activists. Major search operations are also taking place in Bankura and Purulia. (ANI)