At least two persons were detained in Jharkhand's East Singhbhum district, bordering West Bengal, as police forces of the two states moved through treacherous terrains in continuing joint anti-Maoist operation today.

At least 20 paramilitary jawans were killed in the biggest-ever Maoist attack in West Bengal when ultras overran their camp at Silda in West Midnapore after setting it on fire on Monday, barely a week after Union Home Minister P Chidambaram's meeting here to draw up a joint strategy to counter them.

In a bid to help states to coordinate their campaign against Naxals, the Centre has convened a crucial meeting of four Maoist-affected states - West Bengal, Orissa, Bihar and Jharkhand - in Kolkata tomorrow.

Stating that it would not lay down arms, banned CPI (Maoist) on Saturday said that it was open to talks with the Jharkhand government provided the ban over it was lifted along with the release of its cadres.

The Naxalites have called for a 24-hour bandh in six states on Saturday in protest against inflation and alleged police atrocities against tribal villagers.