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This is an archive article published on April 10, 2009

Subhas ready to ‘pound’ Lalgarh tribal leader

West Bengal’s Youth Affairs Minister Subhas Chakrabarty today threatened tribal leader from Jhargram,Chhatradhar Mahato,with dire consequences saying he “would have thrashed him”.

West Bengal’s Youth Affairs Minister Subhas Chakrabarty today threatened tribal leader from Jhargram,Chhatradhar Mahato,with dire consequences saying he “would have thrashed him”.

Mahato has been spearheading a movement against alleged police atrocities in Lalgarh that falls within the Jhargram Lok Sabha seat. Addressing an election rally on Thursday,Chakrabarty said,“If I was given a free hand, I would have pounded and thrashed him (Chhatradhar) before putting him into jail. Who is he? He is a terrorist. He has challenged the law of the land and the Constitution of the country. He is doing all these at the instance of the Congress and the Trinamool. He should be arrested immediately.

The minister was speaking at a rally in Barasat,where he was campaigning for Forward Bloc candidate Sudin Chattopadhyay.

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Meanwhile,there were reports that the government might suggest postponement of the election at Lalgarh if a conducive environment could not be ensured there. “If we cannot send police there,we do not think there can be peaceful and fair elections there,” a senior state government official said.

Mahato, however,was undeterred. “Let the government arrest me,if it can. Subhas babu is calling me a terrorist. But I would like to ask him. Who is a terrorist? me or the minister? Sitting as a minister,he is giving out threats of pounding me to death. I challenge him to come to Lalgarh. He does not know my weight. He cannot even lift a finger at me,” Mahato said,adding he could visit the offices of top officials if they so wished. However,the state administration stayed clear of the issue. “If needed,we will arrest Mahato,” state home secretary Ardhendu Sen said.

Mahoto and his supporters have virtually set up a blockade around 45 polling booths in Lalgarh against the police entry.

Meanwhile,Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee slammed the minister for his remarks against Mahato. “Who has given him the right to thrash or pound a person from Lalgarh? This is atrocious,” Banerjee said. She said Mahato has never been associated with the Trinamool.

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