They blamed the police for not apologising to the tribals in Lalgarh, which is why, they said, the problem has now snowballed into a major crisis.

“We condemn the decision to let armed forces and police enter the tribal areas since it would lead to more bloodshed. After the Salboni blast, the atrocities that the police inflicted on the adivasis cannot be tolerated. Today whatever is happening is because their just demands were not met. If police would have said sorry in the beginning, then things would not have reached such a state,” said actor-turned-activist Aparna Sen.

They said negotiations between the government and the tribals could be held only if the police ask for forgiveness. Urging the government to immediately cease armed action inside the tribal areas, the leaders said that if required they can act as negotiators between the tribals and the administration.

Sen accompanied by theatre artist Bibhas Chakraborty, Saoli Mitra and Bratya Bose, painter Jogen Choudhury, poet Joy Goswamy participated in a march on Friday carrying banners condemning the state’s armed operation in Lalgarh.

“The tribals’s suffering for so many years has led to the crisis. After the landmine blast we have seen how the CPM-backed government openly oppressed the tribals. The tribals outrage is justified. But we need an amicable solution and not an armed one,” said Saoli Mitra.

The protestors alleged that the CPM was attacking tribals after branding them as Maoists.

“The People’s Party against Police Atrocities was formed because of the continuous oppression of the tribals. The government is talking about Maoists, but the question is how the Maoists were able to gain strength in a CPM bastion,” said Mitra.