An attempt is being made by a section of the politically motivated media, pseudo intellectuals and TMC to prove that the Maoist movement at Lalgarh is the result of utter poverty being experienced by the tribals.
This propaganda is not only far from truth but also a calculated perversion of fact. It is actually the so-called “revolutionary activities” of Maoists to undermine the state and seize power. It is also a purely political movement based on the annihilation of CPI (M) and on “extreme violence” as a means to secure organizational goals. This is why one after another CPI (M) leaders and cadres are being butchered in Lalgarh. Poverty of the people has nothing to do anything in this Maoist movement.
The Maoist objective of 'liberating' the proposed Compact Revolutionary Zone (CRZ) extends from Nepal through Bihar in the North to Dandakaranya region (forest areas of Central India) and Andhra Pradesh in the South. The intention is to have a continuous stretch of territory under their influence and control, with the ultimate goal of eventually "liberating" the entire zone to create a state within a state. Large parts of this territory have already been brought under the extremist influence with only some link-ups now necessary in the remaining pockets to make the CRZ a reality. The three districts of Jangalmahal areas including Lalgarh also fall within their Compact Revolutionary Zone of red corridor.
If anyone rolls back his eyes and studies the developments of the last so many months minutely, he will find that there was never any sort of agitation, whatsoever, in Lalgarh and in its surroundings demanding developmental works or basic needs.
Lalgarh is a Gram Panchayat within the Binpur block in West Midnapur district. There are nine GPs in the same block. Binpur Assembly constituency is composed of the GPs of Binpur I and II. In Lalgarh and in its surroundings the CPI (M) and other Leftist forces have always been weak.
It is a known fact that since 2001, ‘Maoists’ started to build their contacts in West Midnapur, Bankura, and Purulia districts and in certain areas, waged concerted attacks against the Left forces targeting the CPI (M) as the main enemy.
They have been waiting for a chance to surface. On 2nd November 2008, an attempt was made by the Maoists to assassinate the West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya, when he was returning from Shalboni in West Midnapur along with the Union Steel Minister after laying the foundation stone of a steel plant. The landmine exploded by the Maoists missed the Chief Minister’s convoy narrowly. The police launched operations to arrest the culprits and some suspects were arrested.
The local tribals led by the Bharat Jakat Majhi Marwa (BJMM), a body of adivasi community leaders, launched protests against ‘so-called’ police atrocities. They demanded treatment and compensation for the injured tribal women, action against the guilty police officials and release of the arrested suspects. On14th November the BJMM leadership reached an agreement with the local authorities. The administration accepted most the demands and provided treatment and compensation for the injured women, released eight of the accused including three school going boys who were arrested and the SP and the Inspector in Charge of Lalgarh police station were transferred.
However, the Maoists under the leadership of Chatradhar Mahato formed another Committee named Police Santrash Birodhi Janasadharner Committee (PSBJC). It accused the BJMM leadership of selling out. The PSJBC blockaded the entire Lalgarh area by digging up roads and felling trees, similar to Nandigram, and made the area out of bounds for the police and the administration. They demanded a public apology by the District Superintendent of Police of West Midnapur and other policemen by holding their ears and crawling with their nose to the ground. The administration tried to open dialogue with them but the PSBJC continued with the blockade insisting upon the public apology by the police officials. That the PSBJC was not interested in resolving the issue in a peaceful and democratic manner became clear with the continuing blockade.
The local tribal people were not in favour of the undemocratic tactics adopted by the Maoist backed PSBJC. The Bharat Jakat Majhi Marwa organized a rally to protest Maoist violence on 9th December in the Bhulabheda area of Belpahari, where more than 10,000 adivasis had gathered. Sudhir Mandal, the adivasi leader who organized the rally, was shot dead by the Maoists less than 48 hours later. The PSBJC formed a parallel administration and its Maoist allies prevented the entry of the police and administration in the villages of Belpahari, Binpur, Lalgarh, Jamboni, Shalboni and Goaltore.
This propaganda is not only far from truth but also a calculated perversion of fact. It is actually the so-called “revolutionary activities” of Maoists to undermine the state and seize power. It is also a purely political movement based on the annihilation of CPI (M) and on “extreme violence” as a means to secure organizational goals. This is why one after another CPI (M) leaders and cadres are being butchered in Lalgarh. Poverty of the people has nothing to do anything in this Maoist movement.
The Maoist objective of 'liberating' the proposed Compact Revolutionary Zone (CRZ) extends from Nepal through Bihar in the North to Dandakaranya region (forest areas of Central India) and Andhra Pradesh in the South. The intention is to have a continuous stretch of territory under their influence and control, with the ultimate goal of eventually "liberating" the entire zone to create a state within a state. Large parts of this territory have already been brought under the extremist influence with only some link-ups now necessary in the remaining pockets to make the CRZ a reality. The three districts of Jangalmahal areas including Lalgarh also fall within their Compact Revolutionary Zone of red corridor.
If anyone rolls back his eyes and studies the developments of the last so many months minutely, he will find that there was never any sort of agitation, whatsoever, in Lalgarh and in its surroundings demanding developmental works or basic needs.
Lalgarh is a Gram Panchayat within the Binpur block in West Midnapur district. There are nine GPs in the same block. Binpur Assembly constituency is composed of the GPs of Binpur I and II. In Lalgarh and in its surroundings the CPI (M) and other Leftist forces have always been weak.
It is a known fact that since 2001, ‘Maoists’ started to build their contacts in West Midnapur, Bankura, and Purulia districts and in certain areas, waged concerted attacks against the Left forces targeting the CPI (M) as the main enemy.
They have been waiting for a chance to surface. On 2nd November 2008, an attempt was made by the Maoists to assassinate the West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya, when he was returning from Shalboni in West Midnapur along with the Union Steel Minister after laying the foundation stone of a steel plant. The landmine exploded by the Maoists missed the Chief Minister’s convoy narrowly. The police launched operations to arrest the culprits and some suspects were arrested.
The local tribals led by the Bharat Jakat Majhi Marwa (BJMM), a body of adivasi community leaders, launched protests against ‘so-called’ police atrocities. They demanded treatment and compensation for the injured tribal women, action against the guilty police officials and release of the arrested suspects. On14th November the BJMM leadership reached an agreement with the local authorities. The administration accepted most the demands and provided treatment and compensation for the injured women, released eight of the accused including three school going boys who were arrested and the SP and the Inspector in Charge of Lalgarh police station were transferred.
However, the Maoists under the leadership of Chatradhar Mahato formed another Committee named Police Santrash Birodhi Janasadharner Committee (PSBJC). It accused the BJMM leadership of selling out. The PSJBC blockaded the entire Lalgarh area by digging up roads and felling trees, similar to Nandigram, and made the area out of bounds for the police and the administration. They demanded a public apology by the District Superintendent of Police of West Midnapur and other policemen by holding their ears and crawling with their nose to the ground. The administration tried to open dialogue with them but the PSBJC continued with the blockade insisting upon the public apology by the police officials. That the PSBJC was not interested in resolving the issue in a peaceful and democratic manner became clear with the continuing blockade.
The local tribal people were not in favour of the undemocratic tactics adopted by the Maoist backed PSBJC. The Bharat Jakat Majhi Marwa organized a rally to protest Maoist violence on 9th December in the Bhulabheda area of Belpahari, where more than 10,000 adivasis had gathered. Sudhir Mandal, the adivasi leader who organized the rally, was shot dead by the Maoists less than 48 hours later. The PSBJC formed a parallel administration and its Maoist allies prevented the entry of the police and administration in the villages of Belpahari, Binpur, Lalgarh, Jamboni, Shalboni and Goaltore.
The self-styled leader of the so-called people’s committee, Chatradhar Mahato who is a known Trinamool Congress activist, was moving with maintaining close liaison with the “Maoists.’ He is now under arrest since 26-09-2009. His younger brother is a zonal commander of the ‘Maoists.’ Just before the 15th Lok Sabha elections were announced, the TMC Supremo Mamata Banerjee herself went to express her solidarity with the pro-Maoist committee (Peoples Committee against Police Atrocities) formed in the area under the leadership of a former Trinamool Congress leader Chatradhar Mahato on February 4, 2009. She shared the same platform publicly with Chatradhar Mahato to address the people in the presence of the leadership of the PCAPA. It is funny to hear that the Trinamool Supremo declared the Lalgarh agitation as another ‘Santhal rebellion’ though Chatradhar declared the Lalgarh agitation as another ‘Santhal rebellion’ though Chatradhar Mahato himself is not a Santhal or even an adivasi. In the mid-19th century, the first Santhal rebellion took place under the leadership of Sidhu-Kanho against the British Raj followed by the revolts led by first Tilka Murmu, and then Birsa Munda. No other political party was allowed to visit the area, which had been blockaded by the committee. However, while Left party leaders were being targeted and sought to be killed, she along with other TMC leaders could go there without any security!
