Normal life hit in Maoist areas of West Bengal

KOLKATA - Normal life was affected Monday in several Maoist pockets of three West Bengal districts on day one of a 48-hour shutdown called by Left-wing guerrillas in five states to protest the security operations against them.

“Shops and markets are closed in areas where the rebels have influence in the districts of West Midnapore, Purulia and Bankura,” Inspector General of police (Western Range) Zulfiqar Hassan told IANS over phone.

There was no report of any untoward incident, he said.

A senior police official said vigil has been stepped up in the national and state highways running through the forested parts of the three districts.

West Midnapore Superintendent of Police Manoj Verman told IANS that normal life was hit in areas under Belpahari, Binpur and Lalgarh police stations. “There are few people on the streets, vehicles kept off the roads, while shops and markets remained closed.”

The shutdown was near total in large parts of Jhargram sub-division where the Maoists have concentrated most of their activities over the last couple of months.

In Bankura, the shutdown call evoked mixed response in some of the police station areas like Ranibandh, Simlapal and Sarenga.

“But there is no news of any breach of peace,” police superintendent Vishal Garg told IANS.

In Purulia, the shutdown drew response in a few areas, police said.

The Maoists have also been demanding that those arrested should be presented before court without delay.

The guerrillas have been particularly agitated over the alleged police detention of one of their key members, Soma Mandi. The rebels claim that Soma was picked up by the police from Joljuli village under Salboni police station in the first week of May.

However, police said they had no record of her arrest.