Kolkata, Feb 9 (IANS) Magsaysay award winner litterateur Mahasweta Devi was among a few hundred intellectuals, who took out a protest rally and burnt an effigy of Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram Tuesday, decrying his meeting with four eastern states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa and West Bengal for chalking out a coordinated anti-Maoist operation.

The protestors demanded the immediate withdrawal of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). Said writer Tarun Sanyal: 'We are against UAPA and joint forces' offensive in Lalgarh (of west Midnapore district). We demand immediate withdrawal of UAPA and joint forces from Lalgarh and release of prisoners in Jangal Mahal.'

Singer Pratul Mukherjee was among those who took part in the protest march that started from College Square and ended at the Metro Channel in the heart of the city.

The rallyists, comprising groups like Bandi Mukti Committee and Lalgarh Mancha, sympathetic to the Maoist cause, also burnt an effigy of West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee.