Tribal party shutdown has partial impact in West Bengal

October 3rd, 2009 KOLKATA - A 24-hour nation-wide shutdown called by Maoist rebels demanding the release of arrested tribal leader Chhatradhar Mahato and the withdrawal of joint forces from Lalgarh hit normal life Saturday in three West Bengal districts - Bankura, Purulia and West Midnapore. According to sources, vehicular transport stayed off the roads and most shops and markets were closed in the three districts Saturday.

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 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 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 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 22nd, 2009 SILIGURI - The Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM), spearheading an agitation for a separate Gorkhaland state, is now considering withdrawal of the indefinite shutdown it has called in the Darjeeling Hills of West Bengal ahead of the tripartite meeting on the issue next month. "We're discussing within our party the issue of withdrawing the indefinite shutdown in the hills.

July 18th, 2009 KOLKATA - A tribal group spearheading a protest against police excesses in Lalgarh in West Bengal has called a 72-hour shutdown in three Maoist-affected districts from Sunday to protest the state government's month-long operation against the rebels in the region. People's Committee Against Police Atrocities (PCAPA) leader Lalmohan Tudu told IANS: "Innocent people are being tortured every now and then in Lalgarh during the security forces' operations.

July 17th, 2009 BHUBANESWAR - Train services in Orissa were disrupted Friday due to a 12-hour shutdown in West Bengal by the Congress protesting an attack on party legislators earlier this week, a railway official here said. At least six trains have been cancelled and two trains have been stopped on route.

July 16th, 2009 KOLKATA - Facing criticism after an attack on eight Congress legislators in West Bengal, the ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Thursday alleged that "anarchist forces" have become active in the state, posing danger to democracy. "Forces of anarchy and indiscipline are active.

June 28th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Bringing to the fore fissures in West Bengal's ruling Left Front, alliance partner Communist Party of India (CPI) has said the state was being run as "a one-party government more or less" and the rise of Leftwing extremism in Lalgarh was due to "neglect". CPI general secretary A.B.

June 23rd, 2009 KOLKATA - Suspected Maoists torched offices of West Bengal's ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) as normal life in rebel strongholds continued to be disrupted Tuesday on the second day of the shutdown against security operations in Lalgarh. Vehicular traffic kept off the streets, shops and markets were closed and people remained indoors in large parts of the three western districts - Bankura, Purulia and West Midnapore - where the Maoists have a strong base.

June 22nd, 2009 KOLKATA - Security was heightened throughout West Bengal Monday as a 48-hour Maoist shutdown to protest operations in Lalgarh came into force with a partial response in the three districts where the left radicals have their sphere of influence. Buses and other vehicles were seen in fewer numbers, while shops and business establishments remained closed in several areas of the West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia districts.

March 18th, 2009 KOLKATA - Activists of Trinamool Congress and Congress party organised a yagna here for the success of the alliance of these two parties in the ensuing elections to the Lok Sabha. This was consequent to the finalisation of the tie-up and sharing of seats between the two parties in West Bengal.

March 12th, 2009 KOLKATA - The Kamatpur Progressive Party (KPP) has organised a 24-hour shutdown in four districts of West Bengal on Monday to protest against the administration's refusal to permit a KPP rally that was to be held at Maynaguri in Jalpaiguri district today. Three districts Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri and North Dinajpur saw partial response while it was total in Darjeeling hills.

March 10th, 2009 SILIGURI - Normal life was affected in four northern districts of West Bengal Monday as the Kamtapur Progressive Party (KPP) forced a 24-hour shutdown to protest the state administration's refusal to let it hold a public meeting a day earlier. Demanding the dismissal of the district magistrate, superintendent of police and sub-divisional officer of Jalpaiguri, KPP activists put up roadblocks on the National Highway 31A, cutting off supplies to Sikkim for some time.