Suspected Maoists killed four persons in two incidents in West Bengal's Paschim Medinipur district during the 24-hour bandh on Monday to protest U.S. President Barack Obama's visit, while the security forces busted a rebel camp in Bankura district.
Several areas in three Maoist-hit districts witnessed a near total shutdown, police officials said. Parts of Salboni, Jhargram and Goaltore of Paschim Medinipur district, the Khatra sub-division of Bankura district and the Bandwan and Balrampur sub-divisions of Purulia district were affected.
Rashbehari Mahato, Sheikh Wahad Ali and Sandhya Rani Mahato, residents of Ganakkata village, near Kanchannagar, in the Jhargram sub-division and known to be supporters of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), were called out of their houses by five armed men late on Sunday. Their bullet-riddled bodies were found near the village early on Monday.
“All three of them had dissociated themselves from any political activity for the past one year because of the ongoing conflict in the region. Though we have not recovered any Maoist poster from the site, the modus operandi points to the Maoist involvement,” Jhargram Superintendent of Police Rashbehari Mahato told The Hindu.
Another person, Kanai Roy, was also shot dead by suspected Maoists at Patashimul village near Jhargram.
Mr. Tripathi said Roy was the former pradhan of the Patashimul village panchayat and a leader of the Communist Party of India.
His wife suffered a bullet injury on the hand while trying to save him, but is out of danger, he added.
The security forces raided a forest hideout of the Maoists near Lithila village at Ranibandh in Bankura district early on Monday and recovered a large cache of arms, ammunition and explosives.
