On Saturday night, an armed group ransacked houses belonging to CPM leaders and supporters in Jhargram town. The incident took place despite the presence of a CRPF camp and heavy police deployment.

According to the police, over 50 armed PCAPA members had raided Ward number 1 and 2 of Jhargram muncipal area — the Bhalulkhulia and Uttarbanda areas — around midnight. They broke the streetlights and then knocking on the doors of the residents, asked them to participate in their rally.

They ransacked 10 houses belonging to CPM leaders and supporters. The house of Gour Poicha, former councillor of Jhargram municipality, was ransacked and his family members threatened at gunpoint.

The group then marched to Balaramdihi, where the locals protested and confronted them. Later, the PCAPA members left the area.

Pravin Kumar Tripathi, superintendent of Jhargram police district said: “Some shots were also fired and we have recovered the bullet casings from the spot. We have tightened security in the town, especially for the night.”

According to the police, for a month now, the PCAPA members have been trying to make inroads into Jhargram town. Previously their influence extended only to the forest areas and villages.

Last week, five houses belonging to CPM supporters were ransacked in Jamda.

Rabi Sarkar, CPM’s zonal committee secretary, Jhargram, said: “Armed Maoists are now attacking innocent residents of towns. Besides our party supporters, they are also targeting common people in different areas, trying to spread fear.”

In Bankura, meanwhile, Maoists gunned down a CPM member on Saturday night. Nirmal Singh, a resident of Lalgarh’s Kanchandanga, was hiding out at his in-laws’ home. An attempt had been made on his life earlier.