Bandh cripples life in tribal belt

Purulia (WB), July 27 : A 12-hour Bengal bandh called by the Jharkhand Disom Party (JDP) to protest the operation by security forces today crippled life in many areas of the tribal belt in Purulia district and some parts of the adjoining Hooghly and Burdwan districts.

Security forces after their operation against Maoists in West Midnapore district had launched a similar drive in neighbouring Purulia district from Saturday.

In Burdwan district, JDP supporters forced shop-owners at Raina Bazar, 30 km from Burdwan town, to down shutters in protest against alleged harassment of tribals by security forces during their operation against Maoists.

Police claimed a young shop owner collapsed and died of a cardiac arrest when he saw the agitators approaching his shop.

A total bandh was observed in the tribal-inhabited areas of Bandwan and Baghmundi in Purulia district, where markets were closed and vehicles stayed off the roads.