NAXAL/ MAOISTS- 2009 - Indian Social Institute

June 14: Maoists used as cover a vigilante procession from Lalgarh and engaged CPM activists in a gunbattle that killed at least three people, staining in blood the Bengal government’s “hands-off” policy in the“liberated” belt. The march by those protesting police atrocities had started from Lalgarh, large parts ofwhich have been out of bounds for police since late last year, on Thursday and covered 11km toDharampur in West Midnapore by Saturday afternoon when the killings occurred. Dharampur is a CPMstronghold on the outskirts of Lalgarh. However, in keeping with the government’s reluctance to enforcethe law and risk a backlash, the police stood by as the procession crossed village after village, trailed by aband of armed men suspected to be Maoist guerrillas. The government has been treating potentialflashpoint issues with kid gloves since the March 14 firing in Nandigram that made the land controversy anational issue. However, caution gave way to excesses late last year when Maoists exploded a bomb onthe chief minister’s route in Salboni in West Midnapore. The police torture of teenagers in a crackdownhad triggered a backlash that was exploited by the Maoists to carve out a “liberated zone”. Thegovernment, wary of bloodshed in the run-up to the elections, played along and left the area to theguerrillas’ mercy. So eager was the government to dodge any difficult decision that it accepted theprotesters’ conditions to hold polls. Last night, the CPM paid a price for the government’s inability to act— in an almost identical replay of the events in Khejuri where the administration reduced itself to aspectator while the Trinamul Congress targeted CPM supporters. ( ) The organiser of the procession —the People’s Committee Against Police Atrocities — denied any Maoist hand and blamed “CPM goons”.Sources who refused to be named for fear of retribution said the 700-strong procession marched towardsDharampur yesterday afternoon. CPM activists opened fire and shot arrows to block the procession thathad apparently put at its head women, forced to join in from villages on the way. The marchers thenretreated and Maoists, who were at the rear, stepped forward and opened fire, the sources said. Theguns fell silent by 6pm but firing resumed at 3am today, apparently after the Maoists returned withreinforcements. Around 10 this morning, the bodies of Asit Samanta, Prabir Mahato and Keshab Mannawere found. The three — in their 30s — are said to be CPM supporters. After the battle was over, theadministration imposed prohibitory orders which few believe the police can enforce, given the way thegovernment has let matters come to a head over the past few months. Dharampur has a police camp 500metres from where the shootout took place, but the 20-odd policemen did not venture out. Policereinforcements could enter the village only at 5pm today — over 24 hours after the shootout started. ACRPF team has also headed to the village. One reason for the delay was the fear of mines on the waybut the bigger impediment was the depth of the administration’s isolation from the ground. Theadministration tonight withdrew a police camp at Koima, 10km from Lalgarh police station. One reasoncould be the 90-odd personnel are being called to join efforts to flush out Maoists if the government givesthe go-ahead. Or the camp could have run out of provisions, sources said. Till this evening, no seniorofficial in Calcutta was either able to or willing to give details on the attack. Inspector-general of police(western range) Kuldiep Singh would only confirm the three deaths. “We are investigating,” he said. Thisevening, chief secretary Asok Mohan Chakrabarti said: “I am yet to know the details. I have heard aboutthe incident but could not make enquiries because of preoccupation with Aila relief and today’s all-partymeeting.” (Telegraph 15/6/09)Maoists use women, kids as shield, dare Central forces (12)Lalgarh: Maoists carrying AK-47 rifles are patrolling the roads here and have formed a human shieldcomprising women and children. On Wednesday, the Maoists vowed to prevent storming of the area bysecurity forces as a fresh upsurge of violence killed a CPI(M) leader and two party activists. Having takenover Lalgarh (Red Fort) in West Midnapore district of West Bengal after forcing the police out, agitatingtribals, backed by Maoists, have dug up the roads at several places and blocked others with more than100 tree trunks to obstruct movement as 2,100 paramilitary forces, including the elite CommandBattalions for Resolute Action (COBRA) raised to combat Left-wing extremists, reached Jhargram, nearLalgarh. The Maoists, armed with AK-47 rifles, are patrolling the roads between Lalgarh and Belpahari,another Maoist-infested area, and have created a three-tier human shield by using children and women, asenior police official said. Approachable from four directions by metalled and mud roads, Lalgarhremained cut-off from three sides after tribals torched the police stations and ransacked the houses oflocal CPI(M) leaders and took over the entire area. Earlier in the day, six unidentified gunmen ridingmotorcycles shot dead a local CPM leader and two party supporters. The dead Marxist leader, AmalMahato, the CPM’s Shimli branch secretary, was part of a village resistance group which was assistingthe police against the Maoists. According to a senior Left Front leader, Chief Minister Buddhadev