Hours before chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee's visit to Midnapore today, three youths were shot dead by Maoists in Kusbani jungle in the district.

Bullet-riddled bodies of three youths-Lakhi Das, Jayram Mandi and Manoranjan-with their hands and legs tied in ropes were found in the road near Kusbani jungle, about 70km from here, police sources said.

The Maoists had left behind posters near the bodies of the three claiming that the three were punished for being spies of the police and agents of the ruling CPI(M).

The roads of Jhargram town have also been blocked by felling trees on the road, the sources said.

The chief minister is scheduled to arrive at Midnapore town at around 5.30pm to hold meetings with the district magistrate and superintendent of police of West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia districts to discuss the law and order situation besides welfare measures.

Around 600 central paramilitary force personnel and around 4,000 state policemen have been deployed in the district in view of the proposed visit of Bhattacharjee to Midnapore.

A thick security blanket has been thrown around Midnapore town in view of the chief minister's visit, and all vehicles entering the town are being thoroughly checked.

Anti-landmine checks are being carried out in all main roads of the district, while sniffer dogs and bomb squad personnel have been stationed in important places of the town.

Bhattacharjee had last visited Midnapore district on November 2, 2008 to lay the foundation stone of a private steel company along with then Union steel minister Ramvilas Paswan when their convoy had a narrow escape from a Maoist landmine blast while returning from Salboni.

After the blast, police had arrested a large number of people in the area for being Maoist sympathisers and supporters.

The move followed the formation of People's Committee Against Police Atrocities (PCPA) by locals to protest against the alleged police atrocities.

In a separate incident, police yesterday seized firearms and explosives from a motorcycle near Sarenga forest of neighbouring Bankura district. However, the two persons riding the vehicle managed to escape from the spot.

Police are suspecting the duo to be Maoists.