Lalgarh (West Bengal), Aug 17 - The joint security forces and suspected Maoist rebels Monday clashed near Gohomidanga area in West Bengal's trouble-torn Lalgarh over a proposed meeting organised by a tribal body protesting police excesses in the region.

According to police sources, the Maoists opened fire at the central paramilitary force troopers and the police personnel when they tried to stop people from heading towards Gohomidanga locality to attend a gathering called by the People's Committee against Police Atrocity (PCAPA) leader Chattrodhar Mahato.

The gun battle continued for hours between the two warring forces.

The central forces troopers also dismantled the podium set up to hold the meeting there. The district has already imposed prohibitory orders banning the assembly of more than four persons in and around Lalgarh to foil any gathering of tribals in that area.

Meanwhile, PCAPA activists had shifted to a nearby place and arranged the meeting there, within one kilometre from Gohomidanga where the rally was originally scheduled to be held.