Life has come to a standstill in Naxal-hit districts of Bankura,West Midnapore and Purulia in Bengal following an indefinite bandh call given by Peoples Committee Against Police Atrocities PCAPA,demanding release of Jawaharlal Mahato, the doctor who reportedly treated Maoist leader Kishenji after a bullet injury recently.
Shops were closed and essential services were badly hit due to the strike. PCAPA is also protesting the security forces raid on a health centre at Rameswarpur village which was being run by Mahato.
Security forces destroyed our health centre. Now we dont have any other place where we can go for treatment, said PCAPA Convener Asit Mahato. Forces have slapped false charges on Jawaharlal. He never had any link with the Maoists8230; We will not withdraw the strike until he is released.
But police are adamant on not releasing him. Mahato was running a health centre illegally. He does not have any licence8230; Moreover,he is a close aide of Kishenji and other Maoist leaders. Under no circumstances will he be released. We will produce him in court and the court will decide, said Manoj Verma,SP,West Midnapore.