11 protesters arrested in Bengal

December 13th, 2010 - 10:02 pm ICT by IANS  

Kolkata, Dec 13 (IANS) Eleven activists of the Socialist Unity Centre of India-Communist (SUCI-C) were arrested after police baton charged them and lobbed tear gas shells in West Bengal’s Purulia town Monday, police said.According to police, two policemen were injured. Locals said 11 SUCI-C supporters were also injured.

Purulia district Superintendent of Police Sunil Chowdhury said the SUCI-C organised a rally demanding the release of two party supporters. Police claim the two were Maoists.

The rallyists also pressed for the withdrawal of joint security forces from the Junglemahal area (vast stretches of forest land in the three western districts of Purulia, Bankura and West Midnapore).

The also sought work for agricultural labourers in the drought-prone areas of the state.

“Suddenly, the rallyists turned violent and started pelting stones at police. We first baton charged, but when that failed to restrain the crowd, we fired three rounds of tear gas shells,” said Chowdhury.

Chowdhury said two policemen were injured.

Purulia district SUCI-C secretary Pranati Bhattacharya said trouble started when police tried to prevent the party workers from entering the district magistrate’s office.

“They assaulted our men who then lost their cool and started brick batting the policemen,” she said.

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