Maoists shot dead two people - Karan Murmu and Lal Murmu - in West Midnapore district Saturday night, claiming that they were working against the rebels. The killings took place in the Belpahari forest region.

Both victims were supporters of a local political outfit, Jharkhand Party (Aditya), and were involved in the anti-Maoist committee.

According to sources, the top-rung Maoist leadership called two-day shutdown in the five states to demand release of two of its cadres - Anil and Kartick - who were arrested by Bihar Police somewhere near Patna Aug 19 while they were travelling in a train.