Pro-Maoist group to withdraw West Bengal strike
By IANSThursday, February 4, 2010
KOLKATA - Maoist-backed People’s Committee against Police Atrocities (PCAPA), which is observing an indefinite shutdown in three western districts of West Bengal, is likely to withdraw the strike Friday, sources said.
However, the committee has decided to again go on a strike from Sunday to protest union Home Minister P. Chidambaram’s meeting with chief ministers of four eastern states, scheduled to be held in Kolkata Feb 9.
“We’ve taken all necessary measures to tackle any untoward incident in the region. We have already put every member of our police force on alert,” state Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) Kuldeep Singh told IANS.
The shutdown that bagan Tuesday evoked mixed response in three districts of Bankura, Purulia and West Midnapore.
The shops and markets were seen closed and vehicular traffic remained off the road in most parts of the Maoist-affected region.
Many schools and colleges, however, functioned normally as educational institutions were kept out of the purview of the shutdown.
Meanwhile, a man was found dead Thursday morning at Binpur near Jhargram sub-division of West Midnapur district.
“We’re yet to ascertain whether it was a murder or an accident. We’re looking into it,” Singh said.
