Mahato leads rally in Lalgarh,calls for shutdown of 3 dists

On a day when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh held parleys with chief ministers on internal security,including challenges in the face of Maoist violence,Maoists in Bengal on Monday flexed their muscles by calling an indefinte shutdown in three districts. Besides,the Maoists-backed Peoples Committee Against Police Atrocities (PCAPA) took out a massive rally in Lalgarh against joint operations by security forces despite heavy security arrangements and ongoing joint operations. Chhatradhar Mahato,leader of PCAPA who is wanted by the security forces,said police fired on their peaceful rally.

Surojit Purokayastha,IG (Law and Order),said: They (the Maoists) have called an indefinite bandh in the three districts of Bankura,West Midnapore and Purulia. The shutdown starts tomorrow.

Police have,however,denied that a rally took place in Lalgarh. As far as I know no such rally took place. We did not even dismantle any stage. Chhatradhar Mahato and his organisation is backed by Maoists and we are going to arrest him, said Manoj Verma,SP of West Midnapore.

The PCAPA rally in Lalgarh was in violation of Section 144 of the CrPC imposed in the area. The PCAPA erected a make-shift stage near Gohomidanga High School in preparation for the rally. Major roads leading to the area were blocked by tribals by felling trees. Around 5,000 tribals gathered at the spot.