Midnapore (West Bengal), Nov 12 : The People''s Committee Against Police Atrocities (PCAPA), a pro-Maoist organization, has called for a 72-hour indefinite shutdown in the Jhargram region of West Bengal’s Midnapore district.

The shutdown was started at 6 am on Thursday to protest against the police baton-charge on its supporters on Wednesday.

The police had allegedly baton-charged Tribals including women in Jhargram region, who were demanding the release of their leaders, Chhatradhar Mahato, who was spearheading agitation in Lalgarh district.

As the shutdown began, the PCAPA activists set afire a pick-up van of the police near Jhargram town. They also attached posters nearby the incident site announcing the shutdown call.

Nirmal Mahato, a local resident, said the agitation had started at 5 a. m, when they set on fire a jeep coming from Orissa.

“The incident occurred in the wee hours of morning. Boys were working in the field. Suddenly we heard a loud sound. The passengers from the jeep informed the local boys in the field that the jeep has been set on fire. It was coming from Orissa and was heading towards Jhargram,” Nirmal Mahato said.

The shutdown affected normal life in Jhargram area as all educational institutions and shops remained closed. (ANI)