M A I N   N E W S

Maoists attack CRPF patrol
Subhrangshu Gupta/TNS

Kolkata, May 23
Maoists again attacked a CRPF patrol in Jangalmahal area of West Midnapore district in West Bengal yesterday prior to the gunning down of two CPM cadres at nearby Jhargram town. One CRPF personnel was also injured.

The bodies were found lying on the main thoroughfare to Jamshedpur today. Maoist posters and literature were also strewn around, with one poster carrying the warning of “more such attacks if the joint action force was not withdrawn and innocent villagers of Lalgarh-Jangalmahal area not released”.

The Maoists fired several rounds at the CRPF personnel who were escorting the Tata Steel express passing through Jangalmahal. In the firing, a CRPF jawan and a passenger received bullet injuries. The Maoists also blasted landmines at several places in Jhargra. They also burnt down the local CPM office.

At Jhargram station, the aggrieved passengers organised demonstrations before the station master and the GRP thana, demanding adequate protection. Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee alleged that the state government had reduced the police deployment on the railways, which was encouraging the Maoists to frequently attack the trains and the passengers.