Nearly 14 months after they fled from their homes in Maoist-hit West Midnapore district, CPI(M) leaders and supporters are venturing back, with the police attributing it to the improvement in the situation.

"I cannot say that the situation is absolutely normal, but it is true that it has improved and will improve further. The elimination of Maoist and PCPA leaders like Sidhu Soren and Umakanta Mahato have created panic among the ultras," West Midnapore Superintendent of Police, Manoj Kumar Verma told PTI.

Soren, chief of the Sidhu-Kanhu Jana Militia, the armed wing of the Maoist-backed People Committee against Police Atrocities (PCPA), was among six ultras killed during a raid by CRPF and joint forces in Golatore area of the district on July 25, which was termed as a huge success.

Similarly, Umakanta Mahato, the prime suspect in the Jnaneswari Express mishap case of May 28 in which 148 passengers died and for whom a reward of Rs one lakh had been announced by the CBI, was killed in an encounter with joint forces in the Mohanpur forest near Lodhashuli on August 27.

"With constant raids the situation has improved in areas like Goaltore, Kotwali, Salboni, Dherua, Ranjha and partly in Dharampur areas," Verma said.

He, however, conceded that top rung Maoists like Kishenji, Akash, Bikash, Tara and Suchitra had managed to elude capture.

"These people have sophisticated arms and can create a problem at any point of time, so we are not saying that there is absolute normalcy, but the situation has considerably improved," the SP said. .

Among those who are back home at Dharampur in Lalgarh area are CPI(M) Zonal Committee Secretary Anuj Pandey, whose house was burnt down by Maoists and a day later the party office.

"From 13 June, 2009 we had to stay away, but our people wanted that we should return," he said.

He said that the people had understood that the main reason for their fear and suffering was the Maoists. "But they dared to raise their voices against the atrocities by Maoists and we have been able to come back."

His brother, Dalim said that a rally was held at Dharampur and the CPI(M) office was reopened. "Many of our supporters who also had to flee, were able to return home.

"Development work in the area stopped altogether because of the Maoists. We will have to work hand in hand to begin it afresh," he said.

Speaking about the situation in Lalgarh, CPI(M) district committee member, Dhareshwar Sen said, "The Maoists created a liberated zone and there was a complete lawlessness in the entire district, which cannot continue."

He said that after the joint forces launched anti-Maoist operations from June 19 last year, the people who had become homeless and had nowhere to go began to come back.

"This is not the end, but just the beginning. A lot still has to be done."

PCPA Secretary Manoj Mahato, however, claimed that the areas had been recaptured by the CPI(M) with the help of armed cadre.

"The CPI(M) cadre have AK-47s, SLRs and INSAS rifles which is being supplied by the Left Front government, but the common people are not with them," Mahato alleged.

"We don't believe in bloodshed and we will continue our movement in a peaceful way. We will win this battle because the people are with us," he said.