Kolkata, Aug 24 - A two-day shutdown called by the Maoists in five states beginning Monday, to demand the release of two of its arrested members, had negligible impact in West Bengal, police said.

'The shutdown hardly (had an) impact on the normal life in three West Bengal districts - Bankura, Purulia and West Midnapore - which are considered as Maoist strongholds in the state,' Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) Surajit Kar Purakayastha told IANS.

The Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) called for shutdown in West Bengal, Bihar, Orissa, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh to demand release of two of its members arrested by Bihar Police Aug 19.

The police officer said so far there has been no untoward incident in any part of West Bengal.

The Maoist leadership said that two members of their party were arrested near Patna while they were travelling in a train.