Partial response to shutdown call in West Bengal

KOLKATA - The first day of a 48-hour shutdown called by the pro-Maoist People’s Committee Against Police Atrocities (PCAPA) in West Bengal’s three western districts Tuesday evoked partial impact, police said.

“The shutdown was observed in the Junglemahal areas (Maoist affected forested areas of West Midnapore, Purulia and Bankura), but there were no untoward incidents,” said West Midnapore Additional Superintendent of Police Mukesh Kumar.

The tribal dominated forested areas of West Midnapore looked deserted. Vehicles stayed off the roads and shops were shut. Government offices and schools were open but attendance was very poor, Kumar told IANS over phone.

“In areas like Sarenga, Barikul, Ranibandh and Simlipal in Bankura the shutdown was total while in Khatra, Erbanda and other adjacent areas the impact was partial,” Bankura Superintendent of Police Pranav Kumar told IANS.

In Purulia, the shutdown was observed by the tribal people of Bandoan, Bagmundi, Arsa, Balarampur and Jhalda areas near Ayodhya Hills, known as the safe corridor of the Maoists.

But in the urban areas, there was no sign of shutdown.

The PCAPA Friday called the shutdown to protest the arrest of its spokesperson Ajit Mahato. It also demanded the withdrawal of joint forces from Junglemahal alleging that the security personnel were carrying out atrocities.