Maoist shadows lurking in Writers’ corridors?

On February 9,when Union Home Minister P Chidambaram came to the Writers’ Buildings to hold a meeting of chief ministers of West Bengal,Orissa,Jharkhand and Bihar to discuss the Naxal problems,members of the organisation put up posters in the building,demanding withdrawal of joint forces and asking the minister to go back.

Following the arrest of Telugu Deepak alias Venkateswar Reddy,more evidence of its links with the Maoists is said to have emerged. A police officer said the seizure list from Telugu Deepak included copies of the mouthpiece of the State Government Employees Organisation (New Chapter) titled — Sangramer Sathi (Partners in Struggle).

Sandip Dasgupta,joint secretary of the union,said they believe that Indian state is responsible for the current situation in Lalgarh and in the tribal belt of West Midnapore (Jangalmahal). “The Maoists should be given the space for dialogue. The dialogue can take place only after the joint forces are withdrawn,” he said. “We will continue to state our position,even if we are accused of colluding with the Maoists,” said Dasgupta.

Utpal Mazumdar,office secretary of the union,said the government’s neglect of Lalgarh has led it into its current situation. “The Indian state has declared war against its own people. If it can hold talks with terror outfits,why are not the Maoists being taken into confidence?” said Mazumdar while refusing to condemn the Maoist attack on the EFR camp at Silda. Established in the early eighties,the union’s clout rose when a large number of CPM-backed Co ordination Committee Members joined it during the Nandigram movement. “We have our strong presence in Burdwan,Nadia,Murshidabad,Maldah and Kolkata apart from West Midnapore,Bankura and Purulia,” Dasgupta said.

Operation Green Hunt strategy may be changed
Officers are thinking of changing the strategy of the joint operations by the West Bengal and Jharkhand police and the CRPF against the Naxals in West Midnapore and Bankura districts and the adjoining district of East Singhbhum of Jharkhand.

“We have to rework our strategy as we have gathered more intelligence inputs about the ultras. Most of the new inputs have come from the Jharkhand side. I can only tell you that our operations will be more intensified now,” said Alok Raj,Deputy Inspector General,CRPF,which is co-ordinating the operation. The operation is being controlled from Jamshedpur in Jharkhand district. Till now the forces have been engaged only in area domination and no arrests or arms seizure have taken place. ENS