Kolkata: With the blockades organised by
the Maoist-backed PCPA becoming more frequent in Jhargram area
of West Midnapore district, the situation now resembles that
of November, 2008 which saw a massive tribal movement forcing
the government to call in central forces.
Two of the three main roads leading to Jhargram were
either blocked or cut off in the last three days in an attempt
to cut the area from rest of the district, a senior district
police officer said.
"The road from Binpur to Jhargram was cut off at
Betkundri near Dohijhuri yesterday, suspending traffic coming
from Bankura and Purulia. A second road leading to Midnapore
via Dherua was also cut off," Additional Superintendent of
Police (Jhargram) Mukesh Kumar told PTI.
Not only that, there was a blast in a culvert near
Kalaboni on the main road which leads to NH-6 via Lodhashuli
jungle, partially snapping off the third road that nearly cut
off Jhargram, the officer said.
"There is no doubt that the culvert has been blown up by
the Maoists," he said.
The frequent blockades by different wings of PCPA,
including the student wing Chatra Samaj, all over the town
have edged Jhargram to a near-standstill.
Only yesterday, thousands of women supporters of PCPA,
under the banner of 'Nari Izzat Bachao Committee' brought out
well-attended rallies from three separate parts of Jhargram.
The women demonstrators, who were demanding withdrawal of
joint security forces from the Naxalite belt, was stopped
outside the gates of sub-divisional office by a team of
policemen.
However, state DGP Bhupinder Singh told reporters that
people were brought to the procession at gun point. He said SP
and IG have been advised to look into it.
PCPA spokesperson Monoj Mahato told PTI, "The CPI(M) is
giving shelter to goons at the school buildings and Gram
Panchayat offices."
A mass movement had started and if the "goons" were not
ousted from the schools and Gram Panchayat offices, the common
people would throw them out, Mahato warned.
-PTI
First Published: Wednesday, July 21, 2010, 23:26