Yesterday joint forces along with CPM harmads attacked Bandarboni village in Binpur and gunned down at least eight people.
Showing posts with label Lalgarh Movement. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lalgarh Movement. Show all posts
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Saturday, August 28, 2010
What does government want in Junglemahal?
Photograph: Deadbody of Umakanta Mahato. Anandabazar Patrika, 28 August, 2010.
Yesterday, Umakanta Mahato, leader of People's Committee Against Police Atrocities (PCPA) was found dead in Lalgarh. According to the police sources he was killed in an encounter although no casualty of police has been reported. Not only in this particular case, but also in last two encounters in Ranja and Metla forests where joint forces gunned downed total fourteen PCPA leaders-supporters including Sido Soren, no casualty of joint forces was reported. It is therefore very possible that police and joint forces have been killing the leaders of PCPA in clod blood and want us believe that they were killed in encounter.
Fake encounter is not something which we have never heard of. In seventies, so many students and youths were killed in the name of encounter in West Bengal. Although in their words government is keen to restore peace In Jangalmahal, actually prefers to eliminate the leadership of PCPA, the organization leading the democratic movement against police atrocities. They are not going to stop the brutal state repression, rather aggravates it.
The day before Umakanta's cold-blooded murder, Director General (DG) of West Bengal police said there was not a single camp of CPM goons (or Harmad) in Jangalmahal. And when the body of Umakanta Mahato was laying on the soil of Lalgarh, Susanta Ghosh, the minister of West Bengal state government addressing a CPM rally in Goaltore claimed that with arms CPM was going to capture the whole Jangalmahal soon. Obviously, CPM harmads have been working in unison with joint forces to unleash the terror over the people of Junglemahal.
Umakanta Mahato was the prime accused in Gyaneshwari derailment case. PCPA however several times denied the allegation. Surprisingly, police who brought the allegation did not show the enough courage and confidence to produce Umakanta before a court of law; rather preferred to kill him. It once again strengthens PCPA's allegation that Ganeswary derailment was the handiwork of CPM.
Not only the leadership of PCPA, every organization or individual, who stands for the struggles of people, is the target of the government now. Last week police arrested Naba Dutta, well known activists and general secretary of Nagarik Mancha, a mass organization working for labour issues and environment. Couple of months back police arrested Hemanta Mahato, environment activists of Jhargram. These incidents show the fascist face of the government. They even do not spare the democratic-progressive voices. A space for democratic forces is therefore a daydream now.
Red Barricade condemns killing of leaders of PCPA in fake encounters and all forms of repression unleashed by state machinery and CPM goons (Harmads).
Red Barricade
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Protest Continues in Jhargram
Source: Sambad Pratidin, 22 July 2010
Jhargram has been virtually cut-off from other parts of the district as the PCPA have blocked roads for an indefinite period at different points by digging up ditches and dumping tree trunks. The joint forces have been trying to remove the blockades.
Meanwhile, nearly 4,000 students from a dozen secondary schools at Dohijuri, Radhanagar, Shebayatan and Binpur today took out a rally in Bachhurdoba area of Jhargram town under the banner of Chhatra Samaj.
The Chhatra Samaj demanded that the joint forces be recalled from Junglemahal, that torture of innocent villagers by the joint forces be stopped and that medical tests of six housewives of Sonamukhi, a village in Jhargram, whom the police had allegedly raped on 30 June, be done and the guilty be punished.
The agitating students, however, could not venture further inside the town as the police chased them away. The district leaders of the Association for the Protection of Democratic Rights, in a deputation submitted to the district magistrate on 8 July, also demanded that the alleged incident of rape of Sonamukhi women be probed impartially and that medical tests be done.
Source: The Statesman, 22 July 2010
http://www.thestatesman.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=335405&catid=42
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Women march to Jhargram to protest against ‘police torture’
Source: Bartaman 21 July 2010
Source: Anandabazar Patrika 21 July 2010
Source: Sanbad Pratidin 21 July 2010
Statesman News Service
MIDNAPORE, 20 JULY: While the West Midnapore district police have been trying to build up police-public relations anew and wean people away from the clutches of the PCPA and Maoists in general in Junglemahal by organising a football tournament, about 6,000 women including school girls from different places under the banner of the Nari Izzat Banchao Committee (NIBC), a newly-formed women’s wing of the PCPA, marched to Jhargram town today to protest against alleged police atrocities on the women of Sonamukhi in Jhargram and Gosainbundh, Dohijuri and Baghasole in Binpur.
While three such rallies were stopped by joint forces outside the town, one rally managed to reach the office of the Jhagram SDO from where they were turned away by the police. They wanted to meet the SDO, Mr C Murugan, alleging inaction on his part, in failing to inquire into the alleged rape of six housewives at Sonamukhi by the joint forces on 30 June. However, the police made a lathi charge to disperse the protesters and detained four of them.
After receiving written complaints from the tortured women early this month, the SDO assured them that he will see that their allegations will be inquired into. However, the matter was not inquired into, nor were the guilty policemen punished, the NIBC leaders alleged. The SDO said that his inquiry report was given to the district magistrate and that the police will investigate the matter. “I have no knowledge whether they lodged complaint with the police,” the SDO said.
In Gosainbundh, Dohijuri and Baghasole in Binpur, in the name of flushing out Maoists from their homes, the joint forces beat up several residents on Friday. However, 16 injured people of Gosainbundh were denied treatment in Jhargram Sub-divisional Hospital and in retaliation, a plan to ransack the hospital and the SDO’s office and bungalow on Sunday was made. The police prevented this by arresting 30 villagers.
MIDNAPORE, 20 JULY: While the West Midnapore district police have been trying to build up police-public relations anew and wean people away from the clutches of the PCPA and Maoists in general in Junglemahal by organising a football tournament, about 6,000 women including school girls from different places under the banner of the Nari Izzat Banchao Committee (NIBC), a newly-formed women’s wing of the PCPA, marched to Jhargram town today to protest against alleged police atrocities on the women of Sonamukhi in Jhargram and Gosainbundh, Dohijuri and Baghasole in Binpur.
While three such rallies were stopped by joint forces outside the town, one rally managed to reach the office of the Jhagram SDO from where they were turned away by the police. They wanted to meet the SDO, Mr C Murugan, alleging inaction on his part, in failing to inquire into the alleged rape of six housewives at Sonamukhi by the joint forces on 30 June. However, the police made a lathi charge to disperse the protesters and detained four of them.
After receiving written complaints from the tortured women early this month, the SDO assured them that he will see that their allegations will be inquired into. However, the matter was not inquired into, nor were the guilty policemen punished, the NIBC leaders alleged. The SDO said that his inquiry report was given to the district magistrate and that the police will investigate the matter. “I have no knowledge whether they lodged complaint with the police,” the SDO said.
In Gosainbundh, Dohijuri and Baghasole in Binpur, in the name of flushing out Maoists from their homes, the joint forces beat up several residents on Friday. However, 16 injured people of Gosainbundh were denied treatment in Jhargram Sub-divisional Hospital and in retaliation, a plan to ransack the hospital and the SDO’s office and bungalow on Sunday was made. The police prevented this by arresting 30 villagers.
Source: The Statesman, 21 July 2010
http://www.thestatesman.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=335297&catid=42
Monday, July 19, 2010
PCPA land redistribution on in Lalgarh
Rajib Chatterjee
KOLKATA, 18 JULY: In a desperate bid to keep its support base intact, the Maoists-backed Peoples’ Committee Against Police Atrocities (PCPA) has started taking possession of land owned by CPI-M leaders in Lalgarh and distributing them among the landless tribals.
The PCPA activists are also “leasing out” ponds in villages to the people to help them earn their livelihood through pisciculture. A large number of ‘co-operatives’ have been set up in areas.
A PCPA leader, Mr Manoj Mahato, said about 150 bighas of land, owned by CPI-M leaders, have so far been distributed among the local people in the last two months.
When asked for comment on the matter, state home secretary, Mr Samar Ghosh said: “These activities may have been taking place in an isolated manner”.
"Besides leasing out ponds to poor tribals, we are also digging up more water bodies at several villages in Junglemahal to encourage pisciculture," Mr Mahato added.
According to the PCPA leader, a water body covering over 12 bighas of land at Kalsidanga village near Jhargram has recently been “leased out” to a cooperative formed by the villagers. “Pisciculture is now taking place in the pond that was under the possession of a CPI-M leader. The CPI-M man, who had captured the pond illegally, deserted the village because of mass anger against him. We have done nothing wrong,” Mr Mahato told The Statesman.
Source: The Statesman 19 July 2010
http://www.thestatesman.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=335134&catid=35
Friday, June 18, 2010
Cops parade deranged man as Maoist
SALBONI (WEST MIDNAPORE): The "dreaded" Maoist captured by joint forces on Wednesday the only one apparently caught alive at the encounter site where eight rebels lay dead is a 20-year-old mute and mentally challenged youth from Duli village. No wonder, police haven't been able to make him speak.
In what may cast a shadow on the way the police are rounding up suspects, Rameshwar Murmu has been branded a hardcore Maoist and slapped with the most stringent of charges, including sedition under Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).
The Midnapore court on Thursday remanded him in 15 days judicial custody. While on Wednesday, the cops claimed the "captured Maoist" was too stunned at the loss of so many comrades to speak and admitted that he hadn't said a word, Rameshwar's father, Bankim Murmu, cried, "My son can't speak. He may scream if you hit him, but he can't speak a word." The Murmus live right behind Wednesday's encounter site.
Bankim says Rameshwar suffers from congenital epilepsy and developed ENT problems at a very young age leading to loss of speech and hearing. He produced medical records to support his claim. "He can only make barely legible sounds. It affected his behaviour and he lost his mental balance. That is why he could not pursue education beyond class IV," a tearful Bankim told TOI on Thursday.
Bankim owns a mud house and a small plot of land on the edge of Ranjya forest where the bloody encounter took place on Wednesday. His elder son, Ram, works in a factory in Orissa.
Recounting Wednesday's developments that led to his son being captured, Bankim said they woke up to the sound of gunfire behind his house. The family rushed out in the direction of the village to avoid being hit.
"My wife Madina was holding Rameshwar's hand as we ran. The gunfire had woken up other villagers as well and they were running helter-skelter. In the melee, Rameshwar broke free and ran back towards the house. I don't know what was on his mind. My wife ran after him. But before she could reach Rameshwar, police caught him. They put a gun to his head and said they would shoot if anyone took a step forward," he said.
The parents could only watch helplessly as the forces led their son away. "We pleaded with them to let him go. We told them that he is mentally challenged and not involved with Maoists. But they refused to listen," said Madina. They don't know where their son has been taken. Nor do they have the courage to go to the police for fear of being thrashed.
According to medical documents, Rameshwar was treated at several places between 2004 and 2006, including ENT specialists at Tarakeshwar in Hooghly and Midnapore. On June 5, 2006, when Rameshwar was 16, he was taken to Anirban Diagnostic Centre Pvt Ltd in Midnapore town (ID B-6884, checked by Dr N Adhikari).
Other villagers, like Sudha Soren and Lakshmi Murmu, confirmed that Rameshwar was mentally challenged. "He never behaved like a normal kid. Now we hear that he has been paraded before TV channels with his hands tied and branded a Maoist," Sudha said.
Rameshwar was bare-bodied and wearing blue shorts when he was caught, an unlikely dress for a guerrilla. Police insist Rameshwar was present alongside senior Maoist leaders Bikash and Akash. "After the gunfight, we caught him hiding behind a hedge. He had a single-barrel gun," a cop said.
In what may cast a shadow on the way the police are rounding up suspects, Rameshwar Murmu has been branded a hardcore Maoist and slapped with the most stringent of charges, including sedition under Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).
The Midnapore court on Thursday remanded him in 15 days judicial custody. While on Wednesday, the cops claimed the "captured Maoist" was too stunned at the loss of so many comrades to speak and admitted that he hadn't said a word, Rameshwar's father, Bankim Murmu, cried, "My son can't speak. He may scream if you hit him, but he can't speak a word." The Murmus live right behind Wednesday's encounter site.
Bankim says Rameshwar suffers from congenital epilepsy and developed ENT problems at a very young age leading to loss of speech and hearing. He produced medical records to support his claim. "He can only make barely legible sounds. It affected his behaviour and he lost his mental balance. That is why he could not pursue education beyond class IV," a tearful Bankim told TOI on Thursday.
Bankim owns a mud house and a small plot of land on the edge of Ranjya forest where the bloody encounter took place on Wednesday. His elder son, Ram, works in a factory in Orissa.
Recounting Wednesday's developments that led to his son being captured, Bankim said they woke up to the sound of gunfire behind his house. The family rushed out in the direction of the village to avoid being hit.
"My wife Madina was holding Rameshwar's hand as we ran. The gunfire had woken up other villagers as well and they were running helter-skelter. In the melee, Rameshwar broke free and ran back towards the house. I don't know what was on his mind. My wife ran after him. But before she could reach Rameshwar, police caught him. They put a gun to his head and said they would shoot if anyone took a step forward," he said.
The parents could only watch helplessly as the forces led their son away. "We pleaded with them to let him go. We told them that he is mentally challenged and not involved with Maoists. But they refused to listen," said Madina. They don't know where their son has been taken. Nor do they have the courage to go to the police for fear of being thrashed.
According to medical documents, Rameshwar was treated at several places between 2004 and 2006, including ENT specialists at Tarakeshwar in Hooghly and Midnapore. On June 5, 2006, when Rameshwar was 16, he was taken to Anirban Diagnostic Centre Pvt Ltd in Midnapore town (ID B-6884, checked by Dr N Adhikari).
Other villagers, like Sudha Soren and Lakshmi Murmu, confirmed that Rameshwar was mentally challenged. "He never behaved like a normal kid. Now we hear that he has been paraded before TV channels with his hands tied and branded a Maoist," Sudha said.
Rameshwar was bare-bodied and wearing blue shorts when he was caught, an unlikely dress for a guerrilla. Police insist Rameshwar was present alongside senior Maoist leaders Bikash and Akash. "After the gunfight, we caught him hiding behind a hedge. He had a single-barrel gun," a cop said.
Source: Times of India, 18 June 2010
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Cops-parade-deranged-man-as-Maoist/articleshow/6060704.cms
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Three Intellectuals And Their Arrest In Lalgarh
Day before yesterday,
Nisha Biswas, scientist of a CSIR institute in Kolkata, Kaniska Chowdhury, a professor of a college and Manik Mondal, a well known writer are human right activists and have been associated with peoples' movement for years. Nisha regularly participates in various programmes and street corners organized by Lalgarh Mancha and Sanhati Udyog.
Lalgarh remains besieged by the state armed forces for the last one year. No human right activists are allowed to visit. Statements issued by the police and government officials prevail in mainstream media and remain the major, if not the only source of information regarding Lalgarh. Nobody can think this as a healthy situation, especially when incidents of severe human rights violation by joint forces surface out. Recently three open letters were issued by People's Committee Against Police Atrocities (PCAPA) regarding different issues of People's resistance of Lalgarh and human right violation by joint forces.
It was therefore timely decision of these intellectuals of Kolkata to visit Lalgarh for having first hand experience of the situation of Lalgarh. When state does not allow any human right activist to visit a place, a true activist must earnestly try to reach there to remain honest to his conscience. Given the prevailing state repression, their visits have to be in clandestine. And, a clandestine visit has long been cherished by current West Bengal Chief Minister; remember he spent some time for translating "Clandestine in Chille" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Then what went wrong with Nisha Biswas, Kaniska Chowdhury and Manik Mondal?
It was shown in a TV channel that they were booked as they participated along with others in a meeting of PCAPA. We do not know whether they really participated in such meeting. Even if they participated, how can it be an offense? This organization is not a banned organization, it works for democratic rights; government officials including state election commissioner met the representatives of PCAPA couple of times till June 2009. And a meeting between them was scheduled to be held on 14 July 2009, which did not happen as operation of joint forces started on
Government and police officials sometimes say that the movement of PCAPA has its own trajectory and with time it became closer to the Maoists. It is ridiculous. PCAPA and its movement should be judged on the basis of its content—on the basis of their demands, not on the basis of how close Maoists are to them. People can build movement on several issues. Any organization can find those issues relevant and extend their support. Only with the malicious intention a movement can be assessed on the basis of these supporter organizations.
With such steps against activists working for democratic rights the government gradually establishes the fact that whatever exists is nothing but fascist rule. Such notion when roots in people's mind nowhere help the ruler, rather expedite their fall.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Intellectuals seek CM’s help to hand over body of PCPA leader to family
Statesman News Service
KOLKATA, 1 MarCH: Intellect-uals, writers and theatre personalities have written a letter to the chief minister seeking his intervention to hand over the body of Lalmohan Tudu, president of People's Committee Against Police Atrocities (PCPA) who was killed by the police on 22 February.
The intellectuals who have signed the letter included Mahashweta Devi, Tarun Sanyal, Bibhas Chakraborty, Bratya Basu and Kaushik Sen.
Tudu's body is lying at the Jhargram morgue after the postmortem was conducted. The signatories alleged that the police had refused to hand over the body to the relatives of Tudu. They demanded that the body should be handed over to the family members and a team should be allowed to be present at the last rites of Tudu. They alleged that by not handing over the body to the family members the district administration has flouted the basic human rights.
Meanwhile, a team of the Association for the Protection of Democratic Rights (APDR) today met the state home secretary Mr Ardhendu Sen and urged him to take initiative to hand over the body of Tudu to his relatives. A spokesman for the APDR said that Tudu was killed by the police without any provocation in a fake encounter. “This is the technique which the police follows to eliminate those who oppose them by showing a fake encounter. He said bodies of two other PCPA members were also killed by the police along with Tudu in the fake encounter could not be traced as yet.
Earlier, a team of the APDR had met the district magistrate of west Midnapur and demanded handing over of the body to the family members. Intellectuals said as their is not air conditioning system at the Jhargram morgue the body must have started to deacy.
Intellectuals said they would write to like minded people across the country to mobilise public opinion to put pressure on the state government so that the body is handed over to the family members as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, a prayer is to be made to the Calcutta High Court tomorrow to hand over the body of Tudu to his relatives. The plea for an unlisted hearing of the matter would be made on behalf of Mr Dhaniram Kisku, a relative of Tudu and Association for the Protection of Democratic Rights, a human rights organisation.
Tudu's bullet riddled body was found at his ancestral village at Narcha village in Midnapur (west) last month. He had come to meet his daughter on the eve of the madhyamik examition.
Home secretary Mr Ardhendu Sen today said that nobody has yet claimed the body and if the next to kin of Tudu applies for the body he/she will be allowed to have it.
KOLKATA, 1 MarCH: Intellect-uals, writers and theatre personalities have written a letter to the chief minister seeking his intervention to hand over the body of Lalmohan Tudu, president of People's Committee Against Police Atrocities (PCPA) who was killed by the police on 22 February.
The intellectuals who have signed the letter included Mahashweta Devi, Tarun Sanyal, Bibhas Chakraborty, Bratya Basu and Kaushik Sen.
Tudu's body is lying at the Jhargram morgue after the postmortem was conducted. The signatories alleged that the police had refused to hand over the body to the relatives of Tudu. They demanded that the body should be handed over to the family members and a team should be allowed to be present at the last rites of Tudu. They alleged that by not handing over the body to the family members the district administration has flouted the basic human rights.
Meanwhile, a team of the Association for the Protection of Democratic Rights (APDR) today met the state home secretary Mr Ardhendu Sen and urged him to take initiative to hand over the body of Tudu to his relatives. A spokesman for the APDR said that Tudu was killed by the police without any provocation in a fake encounter. “This is the technique which the police follows to eliminate those who oppose them by showing a fake encounter. He said bodies of two other PCPA members were also killed by the police along with Tudu in the fake encounter could not be traced as yet.
Earlier, a team of the APDR had met the district magistrate of west Midnapur and demanded handing over of the body to the family members. Intellectuals said as their is not air conditioning system at the Jhargram morgue the body must have started to deacy.
Intellectuals said they would write to like minded people across the country to mobilise public opinion to put pressure on the state government so that the body is handed over to the family members as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, a prayer is to be made to the Calcutta High Court tomorrow to hand over the body of Tudu to his relatives. The plea for an unlisted hearing of the matter would be made on behalf of Mr Dhaniram Kisku, a relative of Tudu and Association for the Protection of Democratic Rights, a human rights organisation.
Tudu's bullet riddled body was found at his ancestral village at Narcha village in Midnapur (west) last month. He had come to meet his daughter on the eve of the madhyamik examition.
Home secretary Mr Ardhendu Sen today said that nobody has yet claimed the body and if the next to kin of Tudu applies for the body he/she will be allowed to have it.
Source: The Statesman, 3 February 2010
http://www.thestatesman.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=321158:intellectuals-seek-cms-help-to-hand-over-body-of-pcpa-leader-to-family&catid=42:bengal&from_page=search
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Human Right Activists Arrested On their Way to Lalgarh
Today police have arrested 68 human right activists at Kharagpur rail station on their way to Lalgarh. Lalgarh has been kept isolated from rest of the country by government and joint forces have been continuing their repression on common people in the name of anti-Maoist operation.
Under the circumstances, the human right activists waned to see the condition of the people in Lalgarh. Obvious question is why government does not permit to visit common people and human right activists to Lalgarh? What do they want to hide?
Saturday, January 23, 2010
‘Arrested’ Naxal women released as ‘witnesses’
The police released Shefali Bera (13) and Kanika Adak (35) in West Midnapore on Friday after they were produced before the court as witnesses in the raids that were carried out by the joint forces in Lalgarh on January 20 when the police seized a laptop allegedly belonging to top Maoist leader Kishenji. The two women have given their statements under Section 164 of the IPC to a magistrate, said Manoj Verma, SP of West Midanpore, adding that the two women were not arrested.
Source: Indian Express, Jan 23, 2010
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/arrested-naxal-women-released-as-witnesses/570807/
Day on, hardened ‘Maoists’ turn out to be victim kin
The two women, including a 13-year-old girl, whom the police had claimed to arrest on Wednesday in Lalgarh for being armed Maoist cadres, have turned out to be the family members of two persons who were allegedly picked up by the police on December 6.
While 13-year-old Shefali is the daughter of Joydeb Bera, 35-year-old Kanika is wife of Raju Adak. Both Joydeb and Raju went missing in December and their families had lodged a case at the Jhargram court against the district administration as they alleged that the police had picked up the duo.
According to the People’s Committee Against Police Atrocities (PCAPA), the police were pressurising the family members of Raju and Joydeb to withdraw the case. “So when the two families refused, the women were arrested and branded as Maoists. The police will also slap false cases against the women. This is a part of the continuous torture that the joint forces are perpetrating in the Lalgarh area,” said Asit Mahato, spokesperson of PCAPA.
While 13-year-old Shefali is the daughter of Joydeb Bera, 35-year-old Kanika is wife of Raju Adak. Both Joydeb and Raju went missing in December and their families had lodged a case at the Jhargram court against the district administration as they alleged that the police had picked up the duo.
According to the People’s Committee Against Police Atrocities (PCAPA), the police were pressurising the family members of Raju and Joydeb to withdraw the case. “So when the two families refused, the women were arrested and branded as Maoists. The police will also slap false cases against the women. This is a part of the continuous torture that the joint forces are perpetrating in the Lalgarh area,” said Asit Mahato, spokesperson of PCAPA.
Source: Indian Express, Jan 22, 2010
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/day-on-hardened-maoists-turn-out-to-be-victim-kin/570414/
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Relay hunger strike
Midnapore (WB): Around 138 prisoners including PCPA leader Chhatradhar Mahato on Friday launched a relay hunger strike in Midnapore Central jail demanding withdrawal of combined forces from the Junglemahal area (West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia districts) of West Bengal.
Chattradhar and other suspected Maoists, who were arrested by police and lodged in the Midnapore Central Jail, began the fast demanding the withdrawal of the combined forces and release of all suspected Maoists arrested by police, jail sources said.
They are also demanding that the government withdraws all the cases lodged against the suspected Maoists, they said.
A large number of suspected Maoists arrested by police and the combined forces are lodged in the Midnapore Central Jail.
Chattradhar and other suspected Maoists, who were arrested by police and lodged in the Midnapore Central Jail, began the fast demanding the withdrawal of the combined forces and release of all suspected Maoists arrested by police, jail sources said.
They are also demanding that the government withdraws all the cases lodged against the suspected Maoists, they said.
A large number of suspected Maoists arrested by police and the combined forces are lodged in the Midnapore Central Jail.
People's Committee Against Police Atrocities (PCAPA) Spokesman Ashit Mahato said the PCAPA would take out procession in the Junglemahal area tomorrow in memory of those killed in police firing. (PTI)
source: http://www.kolkatamirror.com/index.aspx?page=article§id=13&contentid=2010010920100109163919328390d4b50§xslt=
Sunday, January 3, 2010
3 killed as cops open fire on PCPA rally at Lalgarh
Three People Committee Against Police Atrocities militia men were killed on Saturday at Joynagar near Lalgarh in West Midnapore district of West Bengal after security forces opened fire on a PCPA rally.
Bijoy Mahato (38), Bhola Mahato (43) and another PCPA leader died on the spot.
Source: Times of India 3 January 2010.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/3-killed-as-cops-open-fire-on-PCPA-rally-at-Lalgarh/articleshow/5406124.cms
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
PCPA men warn of more trouble
Photo: Morter of joint force. Inset: Dead body of Kalol Mahato (Source: Icore Ekdin, (Bengali Daily), 22 December 2009)
Photo: The Statesman, 22 December 2009
Statesman News Service
MIDNAPORE, 21 DEC: The People's Committee against Police Atrocities (PCPA) convener, Mr Asit Mahato, today threatened further bloodshed in the Junglemahal area to avenge the death of two of their members at the hands of the joint forces in Jhargram yesterday.
Two PCPA activists ~ Kajal Mahato and Santu Mahato ~ both in their late twenties, were killed and seven others of the organisation were injured when security forces opened fire on suspected Maoists at Kalaboni village in West Midnapore district last night. Altogether four people have been killed in the Junglemahal area over the past 24 hours, two others being CPI-M leaders of Lodhasuli area in Jhargram ~ Jatin Mahato and Manik Midya. Three of the injured PCPA activists ~ Mr Durgesh Mahato, Mr Pradip Mahato and Mr Gostha Behari Mahato ~ were transferred to SSKM Hospital in Kolkata today after their condition deteriorated. Threatening more violence, Mr Mahato said they will hold a rally at Chhatinasole in Gopiballavpur tomorrow demanding release of the tribal school student, Loso Tudu, who is currently in custody of the Orissa police. PCPA members have also put up posters in different places of Gopiballavpur and Nayagram areas alleging police excess.
Although there were no reports of fresh violence or arson in the Junglemahal area today, the PCPA-sponsored road blockade programme entered its fourth day disrupting traffic movement in the entire Jhargram sub-division.
Meanwhile, members of the Jhargram Bar Association today submitted a memorandum to the Jhargram SDO, Mr Ulganathan P and threatened to observe a ceasework in the court for an indefinite period unless the ongoing jungle raj is removed from the sub-division within 24 hours. The Byabasayee Samiti of Pirakata Market in Salboni too have decided to boycott police and are not selling any goods to the jawans of joint forces based in Pirakata from yesterday. As for the zoo that was torched in Jhargram by Maoists yesterday, Animal Resources Development department officials said that about Rs 6 to 7 lakh would be required to re-open the zoo.
Two PCPA activists ~ Kajal Mahato and Santu Mahato ~ both in their late twenties, were killed and seven others of the organisation were injured when security forces opened fire on suspected Maoists at Kalaboni village in West Midnapore district last night. Altogether four people have been killed in the Junglemahal area over the past 24 hours, two others being CPI-M leaders of Lodhasuli area in Jhargram ~ Jatin Mahato and Manik Midya. Three of the injured PCPA activists ~ Mr Durgesh Mahato, Mr Pradip Mahato and Mr Gostha Behari Mahato ~ were transferred to SSKM Hospital in Kolkata today after their condition deteriorated. Threatening more violence, Mr Mahato said they will hold a rally at Chhatinasole in Gopiballavpur tomorrow demanding release of the tribal school student, Loso Tudu, who is currently in custody of the Orissa police. PCPA members have also put up posters in different places of Gopiballavpur and Nayagram areas alleging police excess.
Although there were no reports of fresh violence or arson in the Junglemahal area today, the PCPA-sponsored road blockade programme entered its fourth day disrupting traffic movement in the entire Jhargram sub-division.
Meanwhile, members of the Jhargram Bar Association today submitted a memorandum to the Jhargram SDO, Mr Ulganathan P and threatened to observe a ceasework in the court for an indefinite period unless the ongoing jungle raj is removed from the sub-division within 24 hours. The Byabasayee Samiti of Pirakata Market in Salboni too have decided to boycott police and are not selling any goods to the jawans of joint forces based in Pirakata from yesterday. As for the zoo that was torched in Jhargram by Maoists yesterday, Animal Resources Development department officials said that about Rs 6 to 7 lakh would be required to re-open the zoo.
Source: The Statesman, 22 December 2009
http://74.125.153.132/search?q=cache:6t4bhwsyZwcJ:www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php%3Fclid%3D6%26theme%3D%26usrsess%3D1%26id%3D278665+statesman+PCPA&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=in
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Rebel kill-&-burn spree
OUR CORRESPONDENT
Jhargram, Dec. 18:
Raju Adak and Joyram Bera had allegedly been picked up from Lalgarh on December 6, but no one by those names has been produced in court — in Jhargram or Midnapore — in the past few days.
“No such arrest has been made,” West Midnapore police chief Manoj Verma said.
The People’s Committee Against Police Atrocities identified the duo as its leaders and vowed to continue the agitation for their release.
Police sources said the duo were “hardcore” Maoists who used the committee as a front. Residents of Lalgarh, they have over 30 murder cases against them.
“The Maoists committed today’s murders and engineered the arson,” said Verma.
The scale of violence and the audacity of the strikes left many stunned. “We haven’t seen such widespread violence since the joint forces moved into Lalgarh six months ago. If we can’t tackle the situation now, it will spin out of control,” a district official said.
Anil Chalak, 56, and Dayal Chalak, 45, were shot at Chandra village in Jhargram while Amal Patra, 60, was killed in Lalgarh.
Following a committee warning yesterday threatening roadblocks, police had been patrolling the 15km stretch of national highway 6 between Lodhashuli, near Jhargram town, and Chichira, on the Jharkhand border.
However, minutes after the patrol had left for another part of the road, 200 people stopped the tankers, ordered the drivers out and set them on fire.
The security forces returned in 15 minutes but such was the intensity of the blaze they could not go anywhere near. Vehicles were stopped and redirected but still some 2,000 trucks were stuck on the highway for several hours from 1pm.
As the flames engulfed the tankers, their tyres burst, and the forces mistook the sound for gunshots and started firing at a roadside jungle.
The tankers burnt for four hours. The highway was opened to traffic past 5pm.
As the trucks burnt, about 150 people descended on the Reshmi Sponge Iron plant, only 2km away, and set it on fire. Over 12 trucks, two jeeps, a car, 20 motorcycles and several bicycles were torched.
One of the jeeps belonged to an official, who was too shaken to speak. “The guards’ quarters and the office were also looted,” he mumbled.
The police said committee activists had accompanied the guerrillas on the raids which claimed the CPM supporters’ lives.
In Calcutta, home secre- tary Ardhendu Sen promised more forces for Jhargram.
Committee leader Asit Mahato said: “Our people set fire to the tankers but we were not involved in the arson at the factory. It was a spontaneous outburst from villagers angry with its pollution. Our movement for Adak and Bera’s release will continue.”
The committee ransacked a forest office in Goaltore tonight and set its furniture on fire. Two mini-trucks were torched.
Home secretary Sen said the Centre had sought a report on the committee’s allegations that CPM cadres and the forces had torched 40 huts on the outskirts of Lalgarh last month.
Source: The Telegraph, 19 December 2009
Jhargram, Dec. 18:
Raju Adak and Joyram Bera had allegedly been picked up from Lalgarh on December 6, but no one by those names has been produced in court — in Jhargram or Midnapore — in the past few days.
“No such arrest has been made,” West Midnapore police chief Manoj Verma said.
The People’s Committee Against Police Atrocities identified the duo as its leaders and vowed to continue the agitation for their release.
Police sources said the duo were “hardcore” Maoists who used the committee as a front. Residents of Lalgarh, they have over 30 murder cases against them.
“The Maoists committed today’s murders and engineered the arson,” said Verma.
The scale of violence and the audacity of the strikes left many stunned. “We haven’t seen such widespread violence since the joint forces moved into Lalgarh six months ago. If we can’t tackle the situation now, it will spin out of control,” a district official said.
Anil Chalak, 56, and Dayal Chalak, 45, were shot at Chandra village in Jhargram while Amal Patra, 60, was killed in Lalgarh.
Following a committee warning yesterday threatening roadblocks, police had been patrolling the 15km stretch of national highway 6 between Lodhashuli, near Jhargram town, and Chichira, on the Jharkhand border.
However, minutes after the patrol had left for another part of the road, 200 people stopped the tankers, ordered the drivers out and set them on fire.
The security forces returned in 15 minutes but such was the intensity of the blaze they could not go anywhere near. Vehicles were stopped and redirected but still some 2,000 trucks were stuck on the highway for several hours from 1pm.
As the flames engulfed the tankers, their tyres burst, and the forces mistook the sound for gunshots and started firing at a roadside jungle.
The tankers burnt for four hours. The highway was opened to traffic past 5pm.
As the trucks burnt, about 150 people descended on the Reshmi Sponge Iron plant, only 2km away, and set it on fire. Over 12 trucks, two jeeps, a car, 20 motorcycles and several bicycles were torched.
One of the jeeps belonged to an official, who was too shaken to speak. “The guards’ quarters and the office were also looted,” he mumbled.
The police said committee activists had accompanied the guerrillas on the raids which claimed the CPM supporters’ lives.
In Calcutta, home secre- tary Ardhendu Sen promised more forces for Jhargram.
Committee leader Asit Mahato said: “Our people set fire to the tankers but we were not involved in the arson at the factory. It was a spontaneous outburst from villagers angry with its pollution. Our movement for Adak and Bera’s release will continue.”
The committee ransacked a forest office in Goaltore tonight and set its furniture on fire. Two mini-trucks were torched.
Home secretary Sen said the Centre had sought a report on the committee’s allegations that CPM cadres and the forces had torched 40 huts on the outskirts of Lalgarh last month.
Source: The Telegraph, 19 December 2009
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1091219/jsp/bengal/story_11885102.jsp
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Cop boycott call in Salboni
OUR CORRESPONDENT
Salboni, Dec. 14: Traders of a Salboni bazaar have decided to start a “social boycott” of the joint forces after some of the personnel allegedly ransacked shops following a blast in which a jawan was injured.
The boycott means shops in Pirakata, about 20km from Lalgarh, will not sell provisions to the personnel.
Such a move had forced police to the brink of starvation and pull out a camp from Kalaimuri in April, when the Lalgarh agitation was at its peak. Aided by Maoists, the villagers demolished the camp after the police left. They also blocked the supply of essentials to the camp in Ramgarh in May.
Food may not be a problem now because the roads, dug up during the Maoist-backed agitation, have been repaired. But, at a time the police are desperate to win back villagers’ confidence, the alleged ransacking of shops spells a public relations disaster.
West Midnapore police chief Manoj Verma denied any ransacking.
But stationery shop owner Debashis Ghosh had a differ- ent story to tell. “The police were brought here to maintain law and order but they are doing just the opposite. We won’t sell any item to them,” he said.
The security forces were engaged in a gun battle with Maoists in Pirakata this evening. It continued intermittently from 5pm to 9pm.
Around 8.30pm, supporters of the People’s Committee Against Police Atrocities ransacked the local CPM office.
Tea stall owner Pintu Manna said the jawans accused the villagers of being in cahoots with the rebels while ransacking the shops yesterday.
Ghosh alleged that 20 shops were targeted because they had refused to shut down after the jawan was injured.
Verma said the police had asked them to down shutters fearing an encounter with the Maoists. “That led to a verbal spat. But it’s not true that shops were ransacked.”
Source: The Telegraph
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1091215/jsp/bengal/story_11865007.jsp
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Joint forces leave behind condoms, booze bottles in School
Sukumar Mahato | tnn
Gohmidanga (
After months of local opposition, several failed promises and finally a court order, the joint forces finally moved out of
As a result, the school will reopen only on December 7, after the compound is thoroughly cleaned. Classes have remained suspended since July 1, when the forces moved in by breaking the locks.
The Calcutta High Court had ordered a week ago that schools occupied by joint forces had to be vacated by December 30. The order came after several promises — one by the home secretary in August and another by the chief minister—to hand back occupied schools to the authorities failed to materialise.
But when the Gohmidanga school was finally vacated on Thursday, teachers and administrative staff were in for a shock. The classroom floors were littered with empty bottles of liquor and used condoms. Blackboards were defaced, benches and chairs were broken and electricity boards damaged.
"Police came to my residence at Dahijuri and informed that the joint forces would leave the school. But we were shocked to see the school premises so dirty. How would the jawans damage school property like this? It will take us two to three days to clean up the mess. So we've decided to start classes from Monday," said Nimai ChandraPatra, teacher-in-charge of the school.
"What's worrying us is the electricity bill. Over the past five months that the joint forces were here, the bill amount touched Rs 12,896 in two phases. Though the police have promised to pay the bill, we fear WBSEB would cut power supply due to the high dues," said assistant teacher Utpal Pal.
PCPA spokesperson Asit Mahato said. "The joint forces moved out after the students, guardians and teachers started a movement against the school's occupation.Despite the court order, forces are still occupying 10 schools in the district."
Local resentment against the occupation of the school had touched such heights that students and guardians had got together to demonstrate in front of the school gates on July 20 and 25. Police lathicharged the mob, allegedly leaving several injured. Villagers later arranged for temporary classes under makeshift tents.
There were about 250 jawans of CRPF, BSF, SAP as well as women police at the school. On Thursday, they walked to the Chandra police camp 14 km away after loading their goods on lorries.
Source: Times of India, Kolkata Edition, 4 December, 2009Sunday, November 15, 2009
Severe State Repression In Lalgarh
Villagers fled their homes in panic as many houses belonging to the Peoples’ Committee against Police Atrocities (PCPA) activists were allegedly torched, ransacked and looted by the armed CPI-M goons who followed the joint forces, alleged Mr Asit Mahato PCPA spokesman. The CPI-M mobilised a few hundred hired trained gunmen who had been lodged in their party office at Enayetpur in the vicinity from they were taking part in the operation to recover their lost bases, Mr Mahato alleged. In another development, a truck was set ablaze at Patasole forest in Goaltore area by the PCPA men last night. The driver and the cleaner of the Bankura-bound vehicle were severely beaten up.
Road blockades organised by the PCPA by dumping trees on several places in Binpur, Belpahari, Jamboni, Jhargram, Lalgarh and other parts of Jhargram subdivision continued for the second successive day today thus paralysing life and cutting off Jhargram from the rest of the state as the PCPA-called three-day bandh from Thursday was observed.
Source: The Statesman, 14 November 2009
http://thestatesman.in/page.news.php?clid=4&theme=&usrsess=1&id=274365
Friday, November 13, 2009
Normal life paralysed during PCPA's bandh in Jhargram
[People's Committee against Police Atrocities (PCPA) supporters were beaten up on 11 November in Jhargram by police and some persons without uniform, allegedly CPM goons while protesting against arrest of innocent villagers. In protest PCPA have called a 72 hours shut down in Jhargram subdivision.]
Jhargram, Nov 13 : Normal life continued to be paralysed on the second-day of the 72-hour bandh called by the People's Committee against Police Atrocities (PCPA) in Jhargram sub-division with all the markets, shops, schools and banks remaining closed today.Jhargram SDO P Ulaganathan here said attendance in government offices was very low.
Bus services were completely stopped in the area due to the shut down (bandh), he added.
Meanwhile, a truck was put on fire in Sankargeria village under Goaltore police station area, allegedly by PCPA activists, police said.
Three of its occupants were stated to be missing.
Combined forces continued combing in Chuasole, Sarbarisole and Sirishdanga villages and the adjacent forest areas on the second-day today.
PCPA convenor Asit Mahato alleged that CPI(M) activists, moving with the combined forces, put fire on the houses of 25 PCPA supporters in these villages yesterday.
Meanwhile, three CPI(M) supporters were reportedly missing from Burhanpur village under Goaltore police station area.
Party sources alleged that PCPA activists were behind the abduction.
No police confirmation is available as yet.
--UNI
Bus services were completely stopped in the area due to the shut down (bandh), he added.
Meanwhile, a truck was put on fire in Sankargeria village under Goaltore police station area, allegedly by PCPA activists, police said.
Three of its occupants were stated to be missing.
Combined forces continued combing in Chuasole, Sarbarisole and Sirishdanga villages and the adjacent forest areas on the second-day today.
PCPA convenor Asit Mahato alleged that CPI(M) activists, moving with the combined forces, put fire on the houses of 25 PCPA supporters in these villages yesterday.
Meanwhile, three CPI(M) supporters were reportedly missing from Burhanpur village under Goaltore police station area.
Party sources alleged that PCPA activists were behind the abduction.
No police confirmation is available as yet.
--UNI
Source: newkerala.com
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Police Lathicharged Peaceful Demonstration In Jhargram
Six thousand armed members of the People’s Committee against Police Atrocities (PCPA) have reached Jhargram for a demonstration.
Police have also reached the spot in order to stop the demonstration. They have reportedly conducted a lathi charge, following which they used tear gas and finally shot fires in the air.
The incident has created an atmosphere of confusion and unrest in the area. Several people are reported to be wounded. Further details are awaited.
Police have also reached the spot in order to stop the demonstration. They have reportedly conducted a lathi charge, following which they used tear gas and finally shot fires in the air.
The incident has created an atmosphere of confusion and unrest in the area. Several people are reported to be wounded. Further details are awaited.
Source: Tara TV
http://www.taratv.com/west_bengal.php?task=full&newsid=2924
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
