Thaindian News

Kolkata, Nov 26 (IANS) A two-day West Bengal shut-down called by the Maoists to protest the killing of their leader Kishenji in what theyn alleged a “fake encounter” evoked only a partial response on the first day in rebel-affected areas, police said Saturday.

“Except for private-run buses, all others, including commercial organisations and educational institutions, are operating as normal. Only in Barikul and Sarenga there is some effect with most of the shops and schools remaining shut down,” Bankura Superintendent of Police (SP) Pranav Kumar told IANS.

West Midnapore SP Pravin Tripathi said the shut-down had a very little effect there and only private buses remained off the roads. “There has been only a little effect with most of the shops and transport operating as usual.”

The Trinamool Congress backed “Jana Jagaran Manch”, which has been campaigning since Friday against the shut-down, claimed the fear of the Maoists had been diminishing among the people in Junglemahal - forested stretches of the three western districts of Purulia, Bankura and West Midnapore where the rebels have a strong-hold.

“Our campaigning against the shut-down by the Maoists has been successful. The fear of the Maoists has been declining which is reflected by the fact that most of the shops, educational institutions and transport have been functioning as usual,” said Nishit Mahato, the secretary of the organisation.

“Only in very remote areas, there has been some effect,” he added.

In Purulia too, the shut-down had minimum effect and commercial and educational institutions functioned as normal, SP Sunil Chowdhury informed.