The 48-hour nationwide-bandh called by the Maoists, in protest against the death of their spokesperson Cherukuri Rajkumar alias Azad, had a partial effect in the three districts of Paschim Medinipur, Bankura and Purulia in the southwest of West Bengal that have been affected by extremist activity.
While the bandh had almost no impact in the urban centres, areas lying on the forest fringes witnessed a complete shutdown on the first day of the bandh.
Pravin Tripathi, Superintendent of Police, Jhargram, said almost all shops, offices and educational institutions remained closed and there was hardly any vehicle seen on the roads. There was, however, no report of any violence throughout the day.
Apprehending attacks on trains and railway properties, the South Eastern Railway authorities have suspended running of trains from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. during the two days in the Kharagpur-Adra and Kharagpur-Rourkela sections – two hours before services are suspended on other days. Several passenger trains were also cancelled.
One more held
A team of the West Bengal and Orissa police on Wednesday arrested another person from Baripada in Orissa for his suspected involvement in the derailment of the Jnaneswari Express on May 28 .
According to West Bengal police sources, the investigators have been looking for Manik Mahato after his name was revealed by Bapi Mahato – one of the main accused in the rail sabotage – during interrogation but could not locate him initially.
Manik Mahato, a resident of Muraboni village in Manikpara area of Jhargram in Paschim Medinipur district, is suspected by the police to be one of the persons who had planned the sabotage. “He was tracked down to Orissa from his mobile phone tower locations,” a police official said.
