Heavy gun battle before Mamata Banerjee's visit in Jhargram

Midnapore, Jul 12: West Midnapore witnessed heavy gun-firing between the Maoists and the security forces 24 hours before West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's visit.

The gunfight took place at about 3.5 km from Lalgarh, 160 km to West Kolkata. Banerjee will address a meeting on Jul 12 at Jhargram, 2 km away from the location where the firing took place.

Around 50 rounds of fire were exchanged between the security forces and the Maoists, said police sources. No causalities have been reported from the area.

Senior officials were unavailable for their comment.

Mamata is expected to visit Nayagram after visiting Jhargram, another Maoist hit area. She had reached Midanapore town on Jul 11. Mamata is also expected to visit Sarenga in Bankura district, a Maoist area on Jul 13.

"On Sunday supporters of the People's Committee against Police Atrocities attacked a village in Jhargram. But our supporters were able to offer successful resistance," Sukumar Hansda, development minister, Jhargram MLA and pashchimanchal (western zone) .

Posters criticising Mamata were put up in Purulia district hours before she visited West Midanapore.

"How could you imprison those who went to jail to put you in power?" read one poster.

"If you want peace, please release all political prisoners," read another.

"During the tour Mamata should order a high-level enquiry to find out the culprits in the security forces responsible for the atrocities on tribal women in Lalgarh in November 2008" - Maoists are campaigning for this demand in the area.

OneIndia News