It’s time for relief politics. The Trinamool Congress has set up relief camps for the people who fled their homes when the security forces marched in, the CPM is trying to set up camps but no one wants to be there and the state government has started distributing foodgrains from the BDO office in Lalgarh.

The Trinamool Congress, which entered the fray with two Union ministers visiting the affected areas on Sunday, set up five relief camps for the victims of “police atrocities” on Monday. The camps were set up in Pirakata, Shalboni, Goaltore, Lalgarh and Netia.

At Pirakata High School where the Trinamool Congress set up its biggest relief camp, women and children, who fled their homes from different villages, huddled in the class rooms. “I just came here to save myself and my family,” said Jamuna Singho, 80, a resident of Melda village. “When the policemen raided our village, everybody ran away. They beat up men and women but spared me because of my age. I fled the house with my daughter-in-law,” said Jamuna.

After leaving her village, Jamuna roamed around in Shalboni until Sunday when she heard of the relief camp. “We traditionally voted for CPM in our village. Even in the last panchayat and MP elections, we voted for the Left. When Peoples Committee (Peoples Committee Against Police Atrocities) asked us to join their rally, my son went,” added Jamuna.

The relief camp has nearly 800 people, mostly women and children from villages like Jamboni, Dhanghori, Kudia, Melda and Sarboria. “We are aware that many of the victims are CPM voters. Initially our party’s name was put on the posters but we got them removed so that anyone can take shelter,” said Sisir Adhikary, Union minister of state for rural development and Trinamool leader.

... contd.