Sensitive PS areas alerted ahead of Maoist strike

MIDNAPORE, Feb. 19: Sensitive police stations in the district including Belpahari and Lalgar as well as those bordering the Maoist-infested areas of Bankura and Purulia have been put on high alert in view the bandh call given by the Maoists, simultaneously in West Bengal, Jharkhnad and Orissa on 21 February.
The bandh call has been given to avenge the killing of seven Maoist ultras at the hands of the East Singhbhum police at Bhitar Amda in Jharkhand on 14 February.
Interestingly, posters calling for support of the bandh were found in Jhargram town today, instead of the known Maoists’ strongholds at Chakadoba, Simulpal, Bholabheda and Banspahari in Belpahari areas. Police believe that this may due to the fact that the hardened members of the outfit have gone into a hiding since the past few months following the arrest and killing of Maoist leader, Bansi Singh in an encounter with police in Jharkhand recently.
In addition, with the arrest of 13 squad members, including the dreaded Rahul by Jharkhand police and also the arrest of their commander-in-chief, Sudip Chongdar, the Maoists are believed to be on the backfoot. n SNS