It was easy for PCPA supporters to attack the CPM office as there was no police presence on Jhargram-Midnapore road (via Dherua) during the day. On Tuesday night, too, four trucks plying on the Silda-Jhargram road were set on fire at Magura in Binpur. There was an exchange of fire at Kanjimakli forests during the day as Maoists and PCPA supporters tried to resist the advance of the police force. There were no casualties though around 40 rounds of fire were exchanged.
Gram panchayats in forest areas of West Midnapore, Purulia and Bankura were closed because of the bandh. No employee could reach the offices across 18 police station areas. All shops were closed. Daily farm labourers suffered the most as they could not go to distant villages for cultivation.
Schools also remained closed. Most of them have suffered a lot as Central forces have set up their camps on the campuses. In fact, one of the PCPA's 23-point charter of demands is police vacate all schools in Lalgarh. CPM cadres in Jangalmahal are a scared lot. In the past two months, 23 party workers have been killed and eight party offices set on fire. They are afraid to keep in touch with district party leaders.
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