The shutdown was supported by the People's Committee against Police Atrocity (PCAPA) that is also demanding the withdrawal of troops from Lalgarh.

'We are supporting the shutdown call and we demand the immediate withdrawal of joint forces from Lalgarh as they are torturing villagers in the name of flushing out Maoists,' PCAPA leader Chhattradhar Mahato said.

The state government had launched a massive security operation June 18 to flush out Leftwing rebels who had virtually made areas in and around Lalgarh in the neighbouring West Midnapore district a 'free zone' since November last year.

However, despite the nearly two-month-long security operation, Maoist activities have been going on unabated, with several members of the ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) and tribals being killed as they were considered police informers.