Jhargram cut off from Bengal as tribals stage stir, block roads

Jhargram, Nov 13 (UNI) Fear and uncertainty loomed large on the residents of Jhargram, cut off from the rest of West Bengal, with the tribals mulling ''Gira call'', a religious congregation with arms, in support of their six-point charter of demands.

A peace meeting between the district administration and the two most important religious outfits - Majhi Maroas and Juam Gaonta - could not materialise as the latter refrained from sending their representatives.

Official sources said at least 250 Majhis held a meeting somewhere in Jharkhand to decide their future course of action.

Tribal leaders had declared that Lalgarh was their role model when it came to clamour for their demands, sources added.

They would launch a major road blockade programme on National Highway No 6 from tomorrow if their demands were not fulfilled by today, sources further informed.

The only road link to Jhargram was also severed from Dherua this morning, while the agitation spread to Belpahari, SDO(Jhargram) Tanmoy Chakraborty said adding trees were felled at Bhulveda to block the roads.

Similarly, under Midnapur subdivision, road links between Goaltore and Humgarh, Garbeta and Bulanpur were cut off by the agitators.

The SUCI created a road blockade in Midnapur town itself near Golkunachak and obstructed the vehicle of DIG (Midnapur) Praveen Kumar for an hour.

'' We know that we cannot take any action as we have been instructed like this. We have resigned to fate, '' the SDO said.

Meanwhile, West Midnapore District Magistrate N S Nigam yesterday admitted police excess on the tribals in Lalgarh after the November Two landmine explosion near Kalaichandi canal, about four km from the district headquarters.

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