Maoist strike call draws partial response in West Bengal

KOLKATA - A two-day shutdown called by the Maoists, to press the government to bring their arrested comrades before courts speedily, evoked a partial response on day one in the three ultra-hit districts of West Bengal.

Shops and markets remained closed while vehicular traffic was sparse on the roads in some areas of the three western districts of West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia, police sources said.

“Normal life was affected in the jungle areas of Bankura due to the shutdown,” said district Superintendent of Police Vishal Garg.

“But the district headquarters Bankura town and in most parts of the district there was completely no effect of the shutdown,” he added.

Maoists have also called the shutdown in Jharkhand, West Bengal and Orissa.

“In West Midnapore, the Maoist-infested belts of Lalgarh, Binpur and a few areas of Belpharai were partially hit. But in other areas of West Midnapore, life was normal,” Superintendent of Police Manoj Verma said.

In Purulia, a few areas saw some effect of the shutdown call, though the district was largely unaffected.

Maoists are active in several police station areas of the three districts.