Tribals caught in Lalgarh crossfire

Lalgarh (WB), June 21 (PTI) Men have deserted their homes
and women and children were going hungry for the past three
days after the crackdown by police and central forces in
Lalgarh in West Midnapore district.

"The men have fled. We could not enter the forest for
collecting firewood. The road to the nearby market of Lalgarh
and Jhargram town is blocked," said Sandhya Murmu of Pirakata
village who has been going hungry with her daughter since
Saturday.

The men were being targetted by both security forces and
tribals under the banner of Maoist-backed People's Committee
against Police Atrocities (PCPA). While the police were
harassing them for getting information about Maoists, PCPA
leaders were pressurising them to join their agitation, she
said.

Most tribal families who made a living by selling forest
products were running short of money and food.

People were fleeing down the road to Jhargram saying they
would take shelter with their relatives, a PTI correspondent
found.

Sailen Mahato, an elderly resident of Pathardoba village
near Lalgarh said, "My stationery stall is lying closed since
the crackdown began three days ago. We are left with four
kilograms of rice and there are four mouths to feed."

Lakshman Tudu, a daily-wage worker in a small unit in
Midnapore town said he could not go to work for the past three
days and was worried he would run out of money. PTI SAG
ASJ
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