In Lalgarh: Trigger mine blast injuring a jawan

The Maoists today went on a rampage in the Lalgarh-Jhargram tribal belt in West Midnapore, killing three CPM leaders at Belpahari in the wee hours and blowing up a powerful mine leaving a jawan injured around 3.30 pm near the Ramgarh police station.

About half-an-hour later, activists of People’s Committee Against Police Atrocities (PCAPA) set two trucks and a private car on fire on NH6 near Lodhashuli forest in Jhargram.

“After a day of Centre’s order for the withdrawal of six companies of Central Paramilitary Forces (CPF), it seems the Maoists have chalked out their plans to come down heavily on the police and the villagers who, according to them, are the ‘class enemies’. We will be left with 11 companies of the forces in this Maoists-dominated area. This is very difficult for the police to fill up the vacuum in the security scenario created after the forces were withdrawn,” said a senior district official.

According to police sources, around 1 am, Nimai Singh and Fani Singh, both activists of the Ganapratirodh Mancha backed by the CPM, were called out of their houses by the Maoists. When they refused, 50-60 armed cadres stormed inside their houses and gunned down Nimai and Fani. An officer of Belapahari police station said he had received a complaint from the family members.

“The victims were earlier warned by the Maoists, who put posters near their houses warning them to quit the CPM. However, they did not,” a police officer said.

Meanwhile, Bagrai Soren, a local CPM leader, was shot dead by the Maoists at Dakai in Belpahari, close to the village Shimulpal where Nimai and Fani were gunned down.

Around 3.30 pm today, the Maoists triggered a powerful IED blast at a place about 2-3 kms away from the Ramgarh police station. Ananta Bhuniya, a police officer, was seriously injured and rushed to the Midnapore General Hospital.

After half-an-hour of the mine blast, PCAPA activists set three vehicles on fire on NH6 near Lodhashuli

in Jahrgram.

“Today is the fourth day of our five-day bandh. The trucks and the private car violated our decree. So, we have punished them,” said Asit Mahato, convener of

the PCAPA.