New Delhi: Veteran Marxist Jyoti Basu on November 23 said terrorist activities were on the rise in West Bengal due to the growing presence of fundamentalist elements in Bangladesh, even as Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee sought additional Central forces to combat the menace.

"This (rise in terrorist activities in the state) is bound to happen when so many fundamentalist elements are operating across the border," Basu said when asked why terrorist groups were becoming increasingly active in West Bengal.

Basu, the former Chief Minister who along with Bhattacharjee is in New Delhi to attend the Communist Party of India – Marxist (CPM) central committee meeting, said, "We have arrested some people," but refused to elaborate any further.

Earlier in the day, Bhattacharjee met Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani and demanded additional paramilitary forces from the Centre to deal with the various terrorist groups operating in the state.

Bhattacharjee, who had a 30-minute meeting with Advani, said he briefed him about "the activities of various terrorist groups operating in our state, including Kamtapuri Liberation Organisation in North Bengal and People's War Group in the South".

"Without Centre's assistance, it will be difficult for us to check these activities," he said.

Asked whether he had raised the issue of terrorist camps operating in Bangladesh, Bhattacharjee said, "Whatever I don't want to say, I will not."

PTI