The Maoist-backed Police Santrash Birodhi Janasadharaner Committee (PSBJC) on Friday called upon the people of Jangalmahal (the forested southwestern part of West Bengal) to “boycott” the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the Jnaneswari Express derailment case.
This follows the CBI declaring the outfit's spokesperson Asit Mahato one of the key conspirators in the derailment plan.
Bandh hits life
Meanwhile, the bandh called by the PSBJC in the Paschim Medinipur, Bankura and Purulia districts partially affected normal life, mainly in the forest fringe areas, with shops, schools and offices in the area remaining closed and vehicles staying off the road.
The bandh was called in protest against the arrest of 13 persons, including three city-based “intellectuals,” from Mathurapur village of the Salboni block in Paschim Medinipur on June 15.
Though there was no report of any violence during the day, the region is expected to witness a similar shutdown on Saturday and Sunday as well, with the PSBJC observing “condemnation day” in protest against the completion of a year of the anti-Maoist security operations and the alleged atrocities perpetrated by security personnel and Communist Party of India (Marxist) cadres.
