Thaindian News

Kolkata, Feb 9 (IANS) Strongly condemning the police firing in north Bengal’s Dooars area which killed two Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) activists, the Maoists Wednesday called for a 24-hour shutdown in three western districts of West Bengal. The rebels also said they would observe Thursday as a “black day”.Comparing Tuesday’s firing in Dooars - foothills of the Himalayas in Jalpaiguri district - with similar “police action” in Nandigram and the Maoist areas, a statement from the guerrillas said: “In the forested areas of the three districts of West Midnapore, Purulia and Bankura, the joint security forces controlled by the state Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee are committing atrocities on the innocent villagers.

“Similarly, the government’s police are now firing on innocent hill people,” the statement issued by the West Bengal committee of the Maoists said.

“We are sympathetic to the movement of the hill people. We extend full support to their movement. We will observe a black day in West Midnapore, Purulia and Bankura Thursday. We will also organise a 24-hour shutdown in the three districts against the police firing,” said the statement.

Joining the left wing extremists, the pro-Maoist civil rights group Bandi Mukti Committee (BMC) Wednesday demanded a probe into the matter.

Speaking at a media gathering, Choton Das of BMC said: “The police are trigger happy. The administration at any cost wants to quell the voices that speak against its atrocities.

“We want an investigation into the matter. Those found guilty should be given exemplary punishment,” added Das.

The rights group also demanded adequate compensation for the families of the dead and the injured.