National

Stir against “police excess” spreads

KOLKATA: More areas were cut off from West Bengal’s Paschim Medinipur district on Thursday as tribal villagers felled trees and set up roadblocks demanding that the police stop “excesses” during raids to track down those responsible for the November 2 blast in the region. Maoists are known to have a presence there.

Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee had a narrow escape that day as a powerful IED went off moments after his convoy passed through Kalaichandi. The agitation by the locals, which began more than a week ago in the Lalgarh area, spread to Jhargram. Processions were taken out by protesters, some armed with bows and arrows. Roadblocks were set up on roads leading to the sub-divisional town. Large parts of Lalgarh, where roads have been dug up, remain inaccessible.

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