“We have recovered three bodies, but we believe at least five Maoists have been killed,” said Manoj Verma, SP Midnapore. Security forces and Maoist squads were engaged in a two-hour gunbattle in the Joynagar and Baita areas of Midnapore district. They also disrupted railway services and called for a bandh in five states.

A group of 20-25 Maoists also struck Midnapore town and set trucks and tractors on fire on Saturday. “There has been some firing but I cannot comment now,” said the SP.

Sources said, at around 11.30 on Saturday, a Maoist squad of nearly 20 to 25 rode into the centre of the town at Tantigeria on 10 motorbikes, fired in the air and set fire to two tractors and a truck of the Food Corporation of India which carried wheat.

The police reached the spot after almost two hours later. The place is barely one-and-a-half kilometres from the district police headquarters, said sources.

Maoist leader Bikas called up local media channels claiming responsibility for the incident. “They were our men,” he said.

The Maoists also called for a bandh in five states following which shops, business establishments, schools remained closed in Lalgarh-Jhargram area. Members of Maoist-backed People’s Committee Against Police Atrocities blocked roads and highways. Fire was also exchanged between security forces and naxals in Baita and Joynagar areas.

Meanwhile, Bhagwat Singh, CPM zilla parishad member and local committee secretary of Kalmapukuria in Nayagram, was shot dead last night. A Maoist squad allegedly attacked his house, dragged him out and shot him from close range

In a separate incident, Bharat Singh, a leader of All Bengal Teachers’ Association (CPM’s teachers’ wing), was attacked by Maoists at Belpahari near Jhargram. On Friday night while returning home at Gajapathor village after visiting his relatives, a Maoist squad stopped him and shot at him. He received bullet injuries in his stomach and his arms.

Presuming him to be dead, the Maoists left him in a pool of blood. Singh lay on the road the night and in the morning walked to the nearest village. From there he was taken to Belpahari police station and then to Jhargram sub-divisional hospital. He was condition was said to be critical.