Three villagers killed in police, Maoists encounter in West Bengal
Jhargram (West Bengal): Three villagers were killed during exchange of fire between police and Maoists at Joynagar in West Medinipur district of West Bengal on Saturday late evening.
Maoists had called for a 24-hour shutdown in five states—West Bengal, Orissa,
Chaatisgarh, Jharkhnad and Bihar in protest against firing which, they alleged,
was done by a cadre of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) at a Christmas fair
for tribals near the Lalgarh region. Acting on a tip off that supporters of the
People's Committee Against Police Atrocities (PCAPA) and the Maoists had gathered
in Joynagar area, personnel of the state police and paramilitary forces carried
out a search operation resulting in the shootout. In another incident in Medinipur
city, a group of 20 to 25 Maoists set trucks and tractors on fire. Police is yet
to apprehend anyone in this case of arson.
