Lakhisarai (Bihar), Barachatti (Bihar), Jhargram (West Bengal): Barely 24 hours after the Centre called the CPI-Maoists a terrorist organisation, Naxals have struck back with a vengeance across West Bengal and Bihar.
Lakhisarai in Bihar was testimony of a bloody gunbattle between Naxals and policemen at a District Court.
"The Naxals came and fired indiscriminately. We fired back. It was chaotic," an injured policeman said.
So far, it was the worst Naxal attack during the two-day bandh they announced against police action in Lalgarh.
In Gaya Naxals blew up a mobile tower and left a letter condemning the police action.
"They asked me about the land and asked me to leave. Then they blew up the tower," said Sukhdeo Yadav , a farmer on whose land the tower was made.
In Jhargram near Lalgarh, they ransacked the CPM office. The spate of attacks is a sign that Naxals intend to keep up the pressure.