A day in Lalgarh: Protests, lathicharge and landmines

Lalgarh: A landmine exploded on Monday at Bankisole in West Midnapore district as security forces combed 43 villages on the second day of the three-day bandh called by People's Committee against Police Atrocities (PCPA), a tribal organisation.

No casualty was reported in the blast. The landmine went off at a jungle in Bankisole, which together with Dharampore and Kadasole areas, all within a proximity of around 2-4 km from Lalgarh, were combed for Maoists, police said.

Meanwhile, hundreds of PCPA supporters and students were lathi-charged at Gohumidanga High School near Dharampur when they held a demonstration to protest the institute being used as a camp by the security forces.

Around 16 people were injured in the lathicharge, the sources said.

The PCPA has called the shutdown in tribal areas of West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia districts to protest the alleged atrocities by security forces during their anti-Maoist operation since June 19 in West Midnapore.

The bandh was peaceful, but transport services were hit in many areas.

Many have quit the CPI-M in areas like Lalgarh, Ramgarh, Manikpara, Belpharai and Goaltore allegedly under the Maoists' pressure.

In Kolkata, Home Secretary Ardhendu Sen said no student was injured in the lathicharge. However, he apologised for the incident, saying, "We are sorry."

Admitting that demonstrations were taking place against the continued occupation of school buildings by the security forces, he said these would be vacated next month.

The Public Health Engineering (PHE) had set up four accommodations for the Central force, while eight alternative ones were being built for them, Sen said.

He said an encounter had taken place in a forest area in Lalgarh, but none could be arrested.

Some documents and tent-making equipment were seized. To a question, Sen said, "The state government can arrest PCPA leader Chhatradhar Mahato, but it is not urgent at the moment. If required he will be arrested."

The influence of Maoists on the PCPA has also declined, he said.

To another question, Sen said the Central force would remain in West Midnapore even after July. The state government, however, was yet to request the Centre on how many companies it wanted to retain, he said.

"The operation by the joint forces will continue. This cannot be completed in a month or two. It takes time."