Khejuri:
What was once the local seat of power, the Khejuri Zonal Committee office of the CPM, is now in shambles, destroyed by locals who have come and ransacked the office. One could also see a building in which debris had been set on fire.
At least 10 CPM offices in Khejuri block have been vandalized by Trinamool supporters in the last three days. CPM leaders have fled, many supporters have switched sides.
Khejuri also adjoins Nandigram which saw violent clashes between the CPM and Trinamool ever since 14 people were killed in police firing there on March 14 2007.
"I used to be with the CPM. But they were doing a lot of wrong things, torturing people. I couldn't stand it so I have now gone to the Trinamool," said Sheikh Bilal, a Trinamool supporter.
"Khejuri is now CPM-free. This has happened as a result of peoples' verdict and their spontaneous protests," said Sheikh Moinuddin, another Trinamool supporter.
Across Khejuri, Trinamool supporters are putting up brand new flags. On Monday, they had seized arms from homes of CPM supporters and driven them out of the area. Inside the police station, 31 CPM members were found cowering in fear.
"We are terrorised and insecure. We have taken shelter with the government. We will go wherever the police takes us," said a CPM supporter.
"I don't know why people have switched sides. All this is happening after the Trinamool won the elections here," says Parul Patra, CPM Panchayat Pradhan.
Flanked by armed escorts, the CPM members were taken away by the police to an undisclosed safe haven. Khejuri is holding its breath. Will the uneasy calm hold or will it explode into a retaliatory bloodbath in the next few days?