Thaindian News

Kolkata, Aug 19 (IANS) Maoists vandalised and set ablaze a Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) office as an indefinite shutdowm called by them in three districts of West Bengal continued for the second day Wednesday, police said.
The CPI-M office near Dherua locality in West Midnapore district was torched by the rebels.

“The incident took place this morning as a group of Maoist rebels damaged and set afire a party office near Dherua,” a senior state police officer said.

Normal life in three tribal-dominated western districts - Bankura, Purulia and West Midnapore - continued to be affected Wednesday as the indefinite strike received good response, especially in the rural pockets, considered as Maoist strongholds.

Schools, colleges, shops and offices remained closed for the second consecutive day while public transport kept off the road due to the shutdown.

According to police sources, the Maoists also opened fire at the security forces’ camps near Gohomidanga and Kantapahari area near Lalgarh.

“We’re carrying out additional patrolling mainly in and around the forest terrains and railway tracks to prevent any untoward incident in the region,” a police official said.

Meanwhile, the shutdown was supported by the People’s Committee against Police Atrocity (PCAPA) that is also demanding the withdrawal of troops from Lalgarh - about 200 km west of Kolkata.

The state government had launched a massive security operation June 18 to flush out Leftist rebels who had virtually made areas in and around Lalgarh a “free zone” since November last year.

However, despite the nearly two-month-long security operation, Maoist activities have been going on unabated, with several members of the ruling CPI-M and tribals being killed branding them as police informers.