A five-day bandh began on Tuesday in West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia – the three Maoist dominated areas of Bengal.
The bandh has been called by People’s Committee Against Police Atrocities (PCAPA), the tribal body formed in November 2008.
Last week PCAPA leaders issued an
appeal for cease-fire by the combined forces and the Maoists to ensure a smooth harvesting season.
The appeal was to hold hostilities for 15 days to enable the farmers harvest the paddy that stands ripe on the fields.
“The poor farmers look forward to the harvesting season eagerly. If deprived of the harvest even rice will vanish in the next several months from their kitchens,” Asit Mahato, the spokesperson of PCAPA had argued.
But the appeal had gone unheeded.
Like all earlier bandhs, this one too might be total in the areas of these three districts where the Maoist writ runs.
The Maoists back PCAPA openly. The PCAPA, too, is raising ‘people’s militia’ to resist the security forces.
The Maoist dominated areas in the three districts of western Bengal also happen to be the areas that enjoy substantial forest cover.