Jhargram (WB), February 02: Four vehicles belonging to the West Bengal health department were set ablaze in the Jhargram sub-division of West Midnapore tonight as the indefinite shutdown by the Maoist-backed organisation began in the Maoist pockets of the district.
Police said four sport utility vehicles (SUV), which ferried women from nearby villages to Manikpara rural health centre for a family planning programme were torched while returning after dropping the women home.
The drivers and helpers were forced to stop by ten armed motorcyclists, believed to be members of the People’s Committee Against Police Atrocities, asked to get down and the empty vehicles then set ablaze, police said.
Joint security forces and fire brigade later went to the area and put off the flames but the vehicles were gutted.
–Agencies