Massive transfer of agricultural and forest land for development and infrastructural projects has created "rural unrest and distress migration" in those areas, a high-level panel has found.

In a clear message to Maoists, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday said no sustained economic activity is possible under the shadow of gun in tribal areas where decades of alienation is taking a "dangerous" turn.

The government has withdrawn over one lakh cases slapped on tribals in Naxal-hit Jharkhand as part of its efforts to win their confidence in its fight against Left wing extremists.

The senior-most bureaucrat of West Bengal Ashok Mohan Chokraborty tried to restore confidence among the villagers in Lalgarh on Wednesday. He was accompanied by Director General Coordination Bhupinder Singh and IG Law and Order Raj Kanojia.

Economy has taken a backseat in restive Lalgarh where security forces have launched a crackdown to reclaim territory from Maoist-backed tribals.