Even as security operations continued in the Lalgarh region of West Bengal’s Paschim Medinipur district, the military wing of the Maoist-backed Police Santrash Birodhi Janasadharaner Committee (PSBJC) -- Sidhu Kanu Gana Militia -- vandalised property belonging to the State government in two separate incidents.
A group of armed men attacked the Silda Range Office in the Binpur block late on Thursday and ransacked and torched six buildings. The group assaulted the officer-in-charge and looted money. It left behind posters demanding the unconditional release of PSBJC convener Chhatradhar Mahato and other leaders of the outfit.
In another incident on Friday, a group ransacked the panchayat office at Makli in the Goaltore area and later set it ablaze.
The PSBJC leadership earlier warned that it would target government offices and institutions in the region if the security forces continued with their ‘atrocities’ against villagers.
Police superintendent Manoj Kumar Verma said the PSBJC was behind both attacks and that they were being investigated.
“The police had been claiming that the PSBJC is an offshoot of the Maoists and was involved in all kinds of violent activities. But only after they launched the so-called armed wing was it proved that there is no difference between the Maoists and the PSBJC supporters,” Mr. Verma said.
