Maoist posters spark tension in Bengal town

At least 30 Maoist posters calling for an armed revolution and mass boycott of the coming Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal were spotted near a market place in Howrah, in Bengal on Tuesday morning causing a tizzy among the residents.

Tension ran high among the residents of Kolkata's twin district Howrah on Tuesday morning after at least 30 Maoist posters calling for an armed revolution and mass boycott of the coming Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal were spotted near a market place, the police said.

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"The posters were seen on the boundary wall of a government-owned residential complex at Kadamtala under Bantra police station area in the district," a senior district police officer said.

He said the local people informed the police about the incident.

According to the officer, all the posters were hand-written using red ink and bore the name of the Communist Party of India-Marxist-Leninist (CPI-ML)'s central organisation committee (COC) at the bottom.

"We've already video-recorded everything and will probe into the matter," the officer said.

According to sources, the district police will send the recorded version to the Election Commission (EC), as the CPI-ML has called for a mass boycott of the upcoming April-May election.