Yes, it’s us, say Maoists

Rebels accept they are behind the stir at Lalgarh

KOLKATA: It is official now. Maoists in West Bengal have endorsed their direct involvement in the destructive agitations at Lalgarh in West Midnapore. They have also vowed to start a similar movement in Bankura.

In a press statement circulated among a section of the media, the state secretary of the Communist Party of India (Maoist), Kanchan, admitted they were directly involved in backing the Lalgarh agitation “The Maoists had been agitating in large parts of Junglemahal (Lalgarh) and will continue to do so. We are supporting the agitation in order to convert the same into a bigger mass agitation,” Kanchan said in the statement.
He said the ruling CPI(M) in Bengal will be taught a lesson and threatened dire consequences if central forces like the CRPF were deployed in Lalgarh.

The state police on Tuesday found definite clues about direct links between Maoists and the Trinamool Congress at Lalgarh. According to documents available with the police, the most wanted Maoist guerrilla, Amal Hembram, alleged mastermind of the Lalgarh movement, was a Trinamool Congress candidate from Hooghly’s Jangipara in the 2003 panchayat polls.

The state Intelligence Branch has cautioned the state that the Maoists in Lalgarh are actively trying to suck in large parts of Bankura into the movement. “Their aim is to keep the red corridor in the region connected with adjacent Jharkhand state,” a senior IB official said.

r_sumanta@dnaindia.net