At Narcha, the pregnant Jashomoni took shelter on the primary school verandah along with other women. Their menfolk, wary of the raids and combing operations in the entire area, fled into the forests. Ranjit fled too.

Around 2 am on Tuesday, Jashomoni went into labour. The women around her tried to get help but failed. Jashomoni gave birth on the floor.

She lay there through the night. At around 9 am, the women managed to get a midwife. “We could not get any help. Yesterday, the police marched through this area. We told them that a woman is pregnant, and may give birth any moment. They did not pay any heed, did not stop, did not do anything,” said Icchamoti Tudu, a woman who was by Jashomoni’s side through the night. Jashomoni begged the Express team for help.

“Please give me some clothes. I just have one saree. My baby will die lying here. I need some food. I have nothing, please get me some help, either from the government or anyone else. Please arrange something.”

When informed about Jashomoni and her baby, Praveen Kumar, DIG Midnapore Range, said: “We are arranging for a medical team’s visit to the area.”

Narayan Swarup Nigam, district magistrate, West Midnapore, said: “Relief work has already begun and medical teams are being sent.”

With the first phase of operations against the Maoists completed, top police officers were working on their next step today. Fresh operations to clear the remaining stretches of roads will begin soon.