Kolkata, Dec 3 (IANS) In continuing violence in West Midnapore district, Maoist guerrillas Thursday planted a landmine, torched houses and engaged security forces in gunbattles. Four rebels were also arrested by the securitymen.
Meanwhile, normal life continued to be hit in the forest lands of the three districts of West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia on the third day of the five-day shutdown called by the Maoist-backed tribal body People’s Committee Against Police Atrocities (PCAPA) demanding a 15-day halt to the anti-Maoist operation in view of the harvesting season.

Security was stepped up in view of the Dec 2-8 ‘foundation week’ being observed by the People’s Liberation Guerilla Army (PLGA), the armed wing of the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist).

The rebels attacked and set fire to the house of a Communist Party of India-Marxist leader Bhagwan Pal in Jhargram early Thursday, and then torched two other houses in the vicinity before fleeing, police said.

The Maoists planted a landmine at Malibandhi village in the district, but the villagers discovered the landmine and informed the police in time.

When the bomb disposal squad was trying to defuse the landmine they came under heavy fire from the Maoists. The security forces returned the fire, and the gunbattle continued for a couple of hours before the militants fled, said district police superintendent Manoj Verma.

The shutdown in West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia called by the PCAPA saw deserted streets and thin attendance in offices, while markets and shops remained shut.

The state government began a massive security operation against the leftwing extremists in and around Lalgarh - about 200 km West of Kolkata - June 18.

The Maoists are active in areas under 30 police stations in three western districts - West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia - of the state.