Kolkata, Dec 7 (IANS) Suspected Maoists shot dead a Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) activist in West Bengal’s troubled West Midnapore district Monday, police said.
The body of Sanatan Pratihar, 44, was found near a forest at Pingboni area.

“The rebels also torched the house of another district CPI-M leader at Shalboni region this (Monday) morning,” police said.

Violence had flared up in and around Lalgarh area, about 200 km from Kolkata, despite stepped up security 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).

In a separate incident, the extremists also set a pick-up van on fire in the district.

Sources said the Maoists torched the vehicle as it was plying during the five-day shutdown called by the People’s Committee against Police Atrocities (PCAPA).

The PCAPA called the shutdown in the districts of West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia, demanding a 15-day halt to the anti-Maoist operations in view of the harvesting season.