Asit Mahato of the PCAPA said the Maoists and PCAPA activists have jointly called for an indefinite blockade in the area to protest against the CPM cadres camping in many villages of Lalgarh and Belpahari. On the first day of the bandh, the blast made Lalgarh out of bounds.

According to a senior police officer, the mine was planted near a culvert running under the road from Midnapore town to Lalgarh. Early today, the villagers were woken up by the sound of an explosion and saw that the culvert has been blown off.

Mahato said: “Today we have called for a 24-hour bandh in three districts. But our blockade programme will continue till the police and administration assure us that all camps set up by the CPM cadres will be withdrawn. The CPM cadres have started torturing the villagers indiscriminately. They are killing innocent villagers and are burying them in the forests in Goaltore and Belpahari areas.”

“We will not allow the police and administration to enter Lalgarh unless the CPM cadres are arrested. For resisting the cadres we will do everything we can do in the district,” added Mahato.

Manoj Verma, Superintendent of Police, West Midnapore, said: “A blast in Salboni has been reported. We have sent forces to the spot. It is a handiwork of the Maoists to restrict the movement of the joint forces in Lalgarh as they have started planning something big in the core area. We are looking into the matter.”

Meanwhile, in a press statement issued by the Maoists, Badal, a member of the CPI-Maoist said they have called a bandh on May 14 in three districts and demanded withdrawal of CPM cadres who have taken up the role of ‘Salwa Judum’ in the area.

He also claimed that the CPM men are killing innocent tribals by branding them as Maoists with the help of police.

Buddha meets Governor, Maoist problem discussed
West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee met Governor M K Narayanan at the Raj Bhavan on Wednesday.

In the meeting that lasted nearly an hour, the Maoist problem and Darjeeling talks were reportedly discussed.