Maoists torch CPI-M offices, shutdown hinders life in Bengal

September 30th, 2009 KOLKATA - A Maoist sponsored 48-hour shutdown disrupted normal life in West Bengal on Wednesday. Shops, educational institutions and business establishments remained closed in Jangalmahal area of West Midnapore district.

August 24th, 2009 Indo-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE KOLKATA - A two-day shutdown called by the Maoists in five states beginning Monday, to demand the release of two of its arrested members, had negligible impact in West Bengal, police said. "The shutdown hardly (had an) impact on the normal life in three West Bengal districts - Bankura, Purulia and West Midnapore - which are considered as Maoist strongholds in the state," Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) Surajit Kar Purakayastha told IANS.

August 23rd, 2009 KOLKATA - Two people were killed by suspected Maoist rebels in a tribal-dominated West Bengal district even as the security forces are gearing up to combat the two-day shutdown called by the Left extremists from Monday in the state. The Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) called for a two-day shutdown in five eastern Indian states - West Bengal, Bihar, Orissa, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh - to demand release of two of its cadres allegedly arrested by Bihar police Aug 19.

August 19th, 2009 KOLKATA - Maoists vandalised and set ablaze a Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) office as an indefinite shutdowm called by them in three districts of West Bengal continued for the second day Wednesday, police said. The CPI-M office near Dherua locality in West Midnapore district was torched by the rebels.

August 18th, 2009 KOLKATA - An indefinite shutdown called by Maoists to protest police excesses began in the three tribal-dominated West Bengal districts of Bankura, Purulia and West Midnapore Tuesday. The shutdown is supported by the People's Committee against Police Atrocity (PCAPA) that is also demanding the withdrawal of troops from troubled Lalgarh.

August 18th, 2009 KOLKATA - Normal life was partially affected in three tribal-dominated districts of West Bengal Tuesday following an indefinite shutdown called by the Maoists to protest alleged police excesses on the villagers. The shutdown received a good response in the rural belts of Bankura, Purulia and West Midnapore districts, particularly in Maoist strongholds.

August 17th, 2009 KOLKATA - The Maoists have called an indefinite shutdown in three tribal-dominated districts of West Bengal from Tuesday, police said here Monday. "An indefinite shutdown has been called by the Maoists in three districts -- Bankura, Purulia and West Midnapore from tomorrow (Tuesday)," West Bengal Inspector General (Law and Order) Surajit Kar Purkayastha told IANS.

July 28th, 2009 KOLKATA - Suspected Maoist guerrillas Tuesday killed a Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) activist at Tantidoba in West Bengal's Jalpaiguri district, police said. State Inspector General of Police (North Bengal) Kundan Lal Tamta told IANS on phone that the Maoist rebels had called a shutdown in Jalpaiguri to observe the death anniversary of Charu Mazumdar -- one of the founding fathers of the movement in India.

July 22nd, 2009 KOLKATA - A Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) activist was shot dead Wednesday by suspected Maoists in West Bengal's Belpahari region, police said. "Phagu Baskey was working in the fields this (Wednesday) morning near Belpahari area in West Midnapore district when a group of Maoist rebels killed him," police superintendent M.K Verma told IANS.

July 19th, 2009 KOLKATA - As the three-day shut-down called by People's Committee against Police Atrocities began on Sunday, normal life was severely affected in three districts of West Bengal, officials said. The bandh is being observed in Jangal Mahal region comprising tribal areas of West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia districts.

June 23rd, 2009 KOLKATA - Suspected Maoists torched CPI-M offices, blew up a village council building and blocked roads as the 48-hour shutdown they called in five states to protests security operations in Lalgarh evoked mixed responses on the second day Tuesday. In West Bengal, normal life in rebel strongholds continued to be disrupted.

June 23rd, 2009 RAIPUR - Day two of the 48-hour shutdown called by Maoists hit life in several parts of Chhattisgarh Tuesday with guerrillas blocking roads and disrupting traffic on key highways. Though life remained unaffected on Monday and no incidents of violence were reported, police said the shutdown impacted life in Bastar bordering Orissa and Andhra Pradesh and in northern Surguja that shares a border with Jharkhand state.

June 22nd, 2009 BHUBANESWAR - A two-day shutdown called by the Maoists evoked partial response in Orissa till Monday afternoon even as two rebels were killed in a gun battle with security forces, police said. There are certain areas where they (Maoists) have presence.

June 22nd, 2009 KOLKATA - Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee Monday accused West Bengal's ruling Left Front of being in cahoots with the Maoists saying the Communists had used the rebels to win the polls in the western districts. "The Left used Maoists to rig the elections and now they are saying Maoists helped the Trinamool.

June 18th, 2009 AGARTALA - Maoist violence and the ensuing tension in West Bengal should be dealt with administratively, ideologically and politically, said Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, who is also a senior Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) leader. "The Left movements in Bengal and across the country are matured enough and have full strength to tackle the Maoist hostility and associated enmity in Bengal," Sarkar told newsmen here Thursday before leaving for New Delhi for a CPI-M politburo meeting.