Pro-Maoist groups stage road block in West Bengal

West Midnapore, Apr 26 (ANI): Pro- Maoist groups on Monday blocked several roads in West Bengal's West Midnapore District demanding release of a doctor arrested on suspicion of being in connection with rebels.

The groups threatened to block the road indefinitely if the state Government fails to release the arrested doctor.

Maoist-backed People's Committee Against Police Atrocities (PCAPA) blocked roads in Lalgarh, Salboni and Midnapore regions by digging up roads and blocking them with felled trees.

The doctor, Jawaharlal Mahato, who runs a clinic in Mathurapur village, reportedly provides medical aid to some Maoists.

He was arrested on April 8.

Security forces said that Dr. Mahato, treated Maoists leader Koteshwar Rao who was reportedly injured in a recent gun battle.

Activists also took out a march demanding the development of the area.

They said that blockade is an effective medium to get the government to pay attention to their demands.

"Only when we create blockades like these, they (government) will realise that there is some problem," said Dilbodh Mahato, a PCAPA member. (ANI)