Police sources said at least eight people died and several people were injured in around 10 clashes that occurred after the Central team left. Officials in the home department, meanwhile, say contradictory data on death toll has left the Central team confused.

While Trinamool Congress claimed that 150 of their workers were killed, the CPM’s corresponding figure was 107. On the other hand, in its submission to the team, the state government maintained that the number of such deaths will not exceed 69.

“We have come to know the team was not satisfied with the claims and counter-claims,” said an official from the home department. “But it is evident from the clashes and murders in past seven days that the state is witnessing large-scale political violence.”

The government has some limitations to identify deaths due to political clashes, said Md Selim, CPM Central Committee member. “But we have enough evidence about our claims.”

Partho Chatterjee, Leader of the Opposition and TMC legislator, said: “The CPM is terrorising the state. We have reported this to the Central team with details. Everyone will believe our reports, which are based on facts and figures.”

On Sunday, fresh violence was reported from Raina in Burdwan, an apparently peaceful district. Armed miscreants set party offices of both groups ablaze. Seventeen people from both parties were injured. The police, which failed to control the mob fury, said the clash between CPM and Trinamool workers took place during filing of nominations for student union elections in a college.

Last Wednesday, as the Central team left the state, CPM cadres attacked a Trinamool party office in Arambagh, resulting in a night-long violence which left 12 people injured.

Clashes have also been reported from Birbhum, Bankura, Purulia, South and North 24-Parganas and West Midnapore. Most of the deaths were reported from the Junglemahal area, which is dominated by the Maoists. “Every day, deaths have been reported from the area,” said a senior police officer.

“We have asked all police chiefs in the districts to take action to control such violence,” said Director General of Police Bhupinder Singh.

Guns can’t solve Maoist problem: Cong
At a time when the Congress-led UPA government is gearing up to take on Maoists in various states, the state Congress said the problem of violence cannot be resolved without development in tribal-dominated areas.

The Maoist problem in Bengal was discussed in the “Chintan Shibir” of the state Congress at Krishnagar in Nadia. The “Krishnagar Declaration” published at its conclusion laid stress on development in the Maoist-dominated areas of Bengal and urged the Maoists for talks.

The three-page document highlighted the fact that there has been no development in tribal-dominated areas in Bengal — be it in the Terai region in North Bengal or the tribal-dominated areas of Purulia, Bankura and West Midnapore, which is known as Jungal Mahal.

The document says lack of development and years of discrimination and neglect have led to frustration among tribals and resulted in violence.

The state Congress also called upon the Maoists to shun violence and sit for dialogue.

Ex-CPM member killed by Maoists
A former CPM district committee member who had quit the party a few days ago after being warned by Maoists was abducted by the ultras late last night and his body was found this morning from a forest in Pingboni of West Midnapore district.

A few posters claiming responsibility for the killing were found beside the body of Sanatan Pratihar, a resident Pingboni, said a police officer. The posters said he worked as a police “informer”, a charge the police denied.

Meanwhile, the Maoists today set the house of one Panchanan Mahato on fire at Fursu in Salboni. Mahato, who is an active leader of the CPM, was not present at the time of the incident.

The ultras also set a pick-up van ablaze at Manikpara in Jhargram for defying the bandh called by the PCAPA, which has also put up posters at a few places accusing the state government of sabotaging the Lalgarh movement.