Arrests, atrocities keep Lalgarh village on the boil

The police “excesses” and “mistakes” have triggered a rebellion a tribal agitation, isolating four blocks of West Midnapore district. For the past seven days, the tribals have been digging up roads, felling trees and damaging bridges.

The police had raided a village, Chotopelia, which is at least 60 km away from the blast spot, three days after the incident on November 5 and arrested people whom they later let off admitting that the arrests were based on incorrect information. This village is now the epicentre of the agitation. The villagers claimed that 10 women were injured during the police action.

One of the residents, Chitamoni Murmu (45), has virtually lost her eyesight. She was hit with the butt of a rifle. “We were asleep when the police broke open the door and dragged out my husband. I was hit by a policeman,” she said.

Sidhu Soren, one of the tribal leaders, said innocent tribals were being labeled as Maoists. “The arrests should have been made only after gathering evidence. The police should not have raided the village in the dead of the night,” he said.

Apart from the labour contractor, the police had also picked up three students and a retired schoolteacher, all of whom are tribals. The police now admit that all these arrests were based on “incorrect” information.

District Magistrate N S Nigam admitted police excesses. “But I fail to understand why the agitation has continued when all the arrested persons, including the students, have been released,” he said.

On the other hand, the villagers claimed that this wasn’t the first incident of police atrocity. “Ever since the Jharkhand Party won a large number of panchayat seats in the area, police atrocities have begun,” alleged Soren.

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