Maoist bandh call has little impact in junglemahal

[1]

A bandh called by Maoists in junglemahal on Saturday at the expiry of the seven-day ultimatum given to them by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to lay down arms, failed to evoke much response, with the PCPA also campaigning against the shutdown.

The joint forces were on intensified patrol in West Midnapore, Purulia and Bankura districts, the forested areas of which are collectively known as 'junglemahal'.

Tribal youths, defied the bandh call and arrived on bicycles from long distances at police stations in the three districts to collect forms for recruitment in the National Volunteer Force, homeguards and as junior police constables.

The chief minister had announced 10,000 jobs in the NVF, homeguards and police for the tribal youths of 'junglemahal'.

In Purulia district, the Peoples Committee against Police Atrocities (PCPA), claimed to be Maoist-backed, surprisingly campaigned against the shutdown with loudspeakers in the Maoist-strongholds of Balarampur, Bagmundi and Bandwan, police sources said.

Private buses were not plying in Barikul, Sarenga, Ranibandh and Simlapal in Bankura district and shops were mostly closed, but life was normal elsewhere in the district, the sources said.

On specific information, the joint forces conducted raids in some areas in Barikul area last night, Bankura Superintendent of Police, Pranab Kumar said.

In West Midnapore district, shops were closed and buses off the roads in Binpur, Belpahari, Gopiballavpur, Nayagram, Shalboni and Goaltore areas, but life was normal elsewhere, they said.

Banks and post offices were open and train services were normal in all the three districts, the sources said.

The chief minister had on October 15 given the seven-day ultimatum and said the Maoists did not believe in 'isms' and were 'supari killers'.

The bandh call had been issued by Maoist state secretary, Akash, who had escaped capture by the joint forces in Salboni police station area in West Midnapore district on October 18.

Akash had made no reference to the offer of a cessation of arms for a month on condition the joint forces were withdrawn while calling the bandh.

He had instead decried the recent suspension of some Indian Reserve Battalion personnel for going on hunger-strike in their camps in junglemahal against prolonged posting in hazardous areas and the alleged apathy of superiors.