Shutdown called in three West Bengal districts Saturday
December 11th, 2009 - 9:36 pm ICT by IANSKolkata, Dec 11 (IANS) Activists of the Maoist-backed People’s Committee Against Police Atrocities (PCAPA) Friday called a 24-hour shutdown in three western districts of West Bengal Saturday to protest the death of one of their supporters in police firing.
In a bid to prevent security forces from reaching the Pirakata outpost in West Midnapore district’s Satpati village, where security forces traded fire with Maoists Thursday, PCAPA members blocked various intersections by felling tree trunks and branches, police said.
The Maoists and PCAPA activists also tried to lay siege to the outpost under Salboni police station near Lalgarh, leading to an exchange of fire with the security forces.
There are no reports of any casualties.
The outpost has been housing the combined security forces comprising central military troopers and state armed policemen who have been deployed to flush out Maoists from Lalgarh.
The security forces also conducted combing operations in and around Satpati looking for the left wing ultras who are deeply entrenched in the area.
Violence sparked off at Satpati Thursday as police exchanged gunfire with a group of Maoists. While police said no one was injured, union Minister of State for Shipping and Trinamool Congress leader Mukul Roy claimed that one person was killed and six others were injured in the gunbattle.
PCAPA spokesman Asit Mahato said a 24-hour shutdown has been called in West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia districts Saturday in protest against the firing.
The Maoists are active in some 30 police station areas in the three districts.
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- Security forces kill PCPA supporter in Lalgarh - Dec 11, 2009
- Maoist activist held for role in teacher's killing - Aug 02, 2010
- PCAPA claims responsibility for train attack - May 28, 2010
- Pro-Maoist group's spokesman in our custody, admits police - Sep 04, 2010
- Lalgarh turned into war zone for Mamata's rally - Aug 09, 2010
- Jharkhand party secretary's body found in Lalgarh - Nov 30, 2009
- Maoists blow up culvert in Bengal - Aug 13, 2010
- Partial response to shutdown call in West Bengal - Dec 28, 2010
- Maoists put up posters protesting Mahato killing - Mar 12, 2011
- Maoist-held train secured, passengers safe (Lead) - Oct 27, 2009
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- Maoists kill tribal leader in Lalgarh - Nov 29, 2009
Tags: bankura, combined security, congress leader, gunfire, kolkata, maoist, maoists, midnapore district, minister of state, mukul, outpost, police station, purulia, s committee, security forces, station areas, tree trunks, trinamool congress, union minister, west bengal