Jhargram: The Maoist-backed PCPA has
called a 24-hour bandh in Jangalmahal on September 19 to
protest against alleged torture of its workers by the joint
forces and Trinamool Congress workers amidst reports that the
extremists are reviving their moribund squads.
The bandh, called by the People's Committee against
Police Atrocities (PCPA), is in response to the arrest by the
joint forces of a prominent PCPA activist Santosh Mahato on
September 12 from Lalgarh Bazar, police said.
Mahato is accused of kidnapping two Lalgarh residents--
Kanchan Garai and Sabir Mollah in 2009 when they were
travelling on a motorcycle to Dharampur from Lalgarh. Till
date no trace has been found of either the two persons or
their bike.
Santosh, close to Maoist leader Bikash, was leading a
squad named after activist Tota Hembram based in Lalgarh.
He has been remanded in police custody after being
produced in a court where he was charged under the Arms Act.
PCPA spokesman Joydeb Mahato said the bandh has been
called also to protest against 'atrocities' committed by goons
of Trinamool Congress at Jangalmahal.
Meanwhile, intelligence reports said the Maoists were
active in regrouping many of the squads which had folded up
during the height of the Joint Forces operation in West
Midnapore district.
Some of the squads are named after prominent Maoist
leaders like Madan Mahato, Jayanta Mahato and Suchitra Mahato,
wife of Sasadhar Mahato, police said.
Violent incidents are also being reported from the region
with four murders taking place in the Lalgarh area over the
past few weeks. Land mines have also been recovered at Binpur
in West Midnapore district.
In another development, last week several thousand
residents of 31 villages in the Satdhara Gram Panchyet area
under Jhargram police station held a public meeting to protest
against alleged PCPA and Maoist torture.
They also formed an organisation named 'Jana Jagaran
Mancha' to resist the strong-arm tactics of PCPA activists in
their villages.
PTI
First Published: Friday, September 16, 2011, 15:25