Kolkata, Nov 21 (IANS) Adhering to a court directive, the West Bengal government Saturday said it would submit a status report to the judiciary Nov 23 on alleged disruption caused to educational activities in Lalgarh by schools housing security forces engaged in anti-Maoist operations.

The high court, acting on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed Saturday by the West Midnapore Bhumija Unnayan Samiti (Welfare Society of West Midnapore People) that alleged that the presence of the forces in schools had hampered studies, directed the state government to file a status report by next Tuesday (Nov 24).

State home secretary Ardhendu Sen told reporters that the government was laying priority to developmental activities, including education, in Lalgarh, about 200 km west of here.

‘We will submit the status report that the court has asked for on Monday,’ Sen said.

The state government has launched a massive security operation comprising central paramilitary troopers and crack personnel from the state police in and around the Lalgarh belt since June 18 to flush out the Maoists, who had turned the area into a virtual free zone since November last year.

Maoists are active in at least 18 police station areas of three western districts – West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia – in the state.