Maoists call shutdown in West Bengal’s Purulia

KOLKATA - Protesting the killing of two of their men by joint forces in West Bengal’s Purulia district, the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) Thursday called 48-hour shutdown in the district from Nov 21.

In a letter to the media, Maoist spokesman Sumon said: “Two of our comrades - Biplab Bandopadhyay and Dhiren Murmu - were killed by the joint forces during their operation in Ayodhya Hills in the district Nov 12. Biplab was one of our most trusted leaders and spent his whole life for the development of the tribals, and Dhiren was one of our supporters.”

“When Dhiren went to collect water from the spring, he was picked up and shot from a close range. Bandopadhyay was also killed in the similar manner. Protesting against the cold blooded and unjustified killing of two of our comrades, we will observe a two-day long bandh in the district Nov 21 and Nov 22. We also demand ‘Operation Green Hunt’ should be stopped immediately,” he wrote.

“The government in the name of flushing out the Maoists from Purulia, Bankura and West Midnapore is conducting a diabolic operation in the area. This should be stopped immediately,” Sumon said in the letter.

Maoists are active in three western districts of the state - West Midnapore, Purulia and Bankura.