The school office building that was set ablaze by suspected Maoists in Pingboni on Monday; and (above) an almirah destroyed by the fire. Pictures by Samir Mondal

Midnapore, Nov. 28: Suspected Maoists set ablaze the office room of a high school in West Mindapore’s Jungle Mahal early today, the first attack by the rebels since the death of Kishan in an encounter in the same district on Thursday.

The arson attack at Pingboni High School, 70km from Burishole forest where Kishan was killed, came a few hours before the two-day state-wide bandh called by the Maoists to protest the death ended.

Police said they suspected the Maoists to be behind the attack. “Pingboni has considerable Maoist presence. Only yesterday, the rebels had put up posters in Pingboni and Goaltore (3km away) threatening Trinamul Congress workers. The attack came barely a few hours before the Maoist bandh ended at 6am. So, we think this is the handiwork of the Maoists,” an officer said.

Kalyan Mukherjee, the additional superintendent of police (headquarters), said an investigation had been started.

An officer of Goaltore police station said some people out on a morning walk first noticed the fire around 5am. “They saw flames leaping out of the office room on the ground floor of the school building. They informed the police and the headmaster. As Pingboni is a Maoist stronghold, we immediately informed the joint forces,” the officer said.

The headmaster, Amarnath Biswas, said: “I live in Goaltore town. A villager called me up around 5am and told me that the school was on fire. I rushed to the school on my motorcycle. Villagers brought water in buckets from nearby wells and ponds and doused the fire. But the office was gutted by then. The furniture was destroyed.”

Officers who visited the school from Goaltore police station said a wooden window was broken and a bunch of hay was thrown into the room. “Then the attackers sprinkled kerosene inside the room and set it on fire. Near the school building, we have found a plastic jerrycan that had some kerosene in it,” the officer said.

Joint forces personnel also visited the school from their camp in Pingboni. Some of them surrounded the school while the others scanned the neighbourhood on motorcycles.

Classes were not held today. The headmaster said the school would open tomorrow. The school has around 800 students.

Police sources said the Maoists often put up posters in Pingboni. “In October, the rebels had put up posters against Trinamul MP Subhendu Adhikari. They had also demanded the resignation of all Trinamul MLAs in Jungle Mahal,” the officer said. He said patrolling in the region would be stepped up.