By IANS,
Kolkata : A 24-hour nation-wide shutdown called by Maoist rebels demanding the release of arrested tribal leader Chhatradhar Mahato and the withdrawal of joint forces from Lalgarh hit normal life Saturday in three West Bengal districts – Bankura, Purulia and West Midnapore.
According to sources, vehicular transport stayed off the roads and most shops and markets were closed in the three districts Saturday.
State Director General of Police Bhupinder Singh told IANS: “Normal life was apparently affected. But the impact was not so intense. Today’s a holiday and people are celebrating Laxmi puja. Most people are in a holiday mood.”
He said the state government buses were plying in all three districts.
Meanwhile, suspected Maoist guerrillas triggered a landmine blast on a railway track in Purulia district early Saturday.
The explosive went off near Urma station after midnight, affecting train movement in the Adra-Chandil division.
The shutdown called by the leftist ultras was in protest against the “unethical” arrest of Mahato and the central government’s refusal to give medical aid to top Communist Party of India (Maoist) leader Kobad Gandhy, who was arrested in Delhi Sep 21.
The shutdown was also against the alleged atrocities by the security forces at Sundargarh and Koraput of Orissa and the alleged torture of locals by the CRPF’s elite unit Combat Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) in Chhattisgarh. The Maoists also oppose the central government’s plans to deploy special forces against them.