A PCPA member was killed when joint forces repulsed an attack by Maoists on their camp at West Midnapore's Kantapahari region, hours after the ultras made a conditional 72-day ceasefire offer to the Centre.
However, the Maoist-backed tribal outfit claimed that three of its activists were shot dead by the security forces in the incident last night.
West Midnapore police superintendent Manoj Verma said the PCPA members assembled near the Kantapahari camp of the forces and fired indiscriminately prompting the jawans to retaliate.
"The members of the People's Committee against Police Atrocities along with some Maoists were forced to retreat by the security forces," Verma said, adding more forces have been rushed to the area.
A PCPA spokesman, however, claimed that three "innocent villagers" Lalmohan Tudu, Yubraj Murmu and Suchitra Murmu were killed in firing by the security forces.
Intelligence sources said among the dead included Suchitra Murmu who was believed to be involved in the biggest-ever Maoist attack in the state, when 24 jawans were killed in a strike on the Eastern Frontier Rifles(ERF) camp in Shilda on February 15, and also took an active part in the attack at Sankrail police station on October 20 where O C Atindranath Dutta was kidnapped and later released.
The spokesman said in protest against the "killing of the PCPA supporters", a seven-day bandh in Purulia, Bankura and West Midnapore districts has been called.
The attack came hours after Maoists made a conditional ceasefire offer asking the government to halt the offensive against them for 72 days and involve mediators for talks. PTI
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