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Kolkata, Oct 14 (IANS) Over 500 security personnel comprising crack commandos and anti-terrorist personnel were at hand as West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee began a two-day visit to Maoist-hit West Midnapore Friday to kickstart development initiatives and discuss with local officialsissues related to Left-wing extremist activities. Banerjee reached Midnapore town, the headquarters of West Midnapore district, in the evening and is scheduled to monitor progress of development work her government has initiated. She is also to discuss security and other issues with the bureaucrats at the Midnapore Circuit House Saturday morning. Soon after reaching the district headquarters, Banerjee began a preliminary meeting with the district magistrate and police superintendent. The chief minister will be driven to Jhargram Saturday, where she will address a meeting. Banerjee is expected to lay the foundation stone for several projects she had announced for the region during her previous visit three months back, besides unveiling a slew of fresh projects like a bridge over Subarnarekha river. The visit comes against the backdrop of the Maoist guerrillas' opposition. They have distributed posters asking people to boycott the meeting at Jhargram. Crack commando units, armed police personnel, bomb squads and anti-landmine vehicles have been deployed in Midnapore and Jhargram as also along the chief minister's route to ensure fool-proof security, a police officer said.
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