[Marxistindia] violence in West Bengal

[news from the cpi(m)]

                                                            May 18, 2009


Press Statement


The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued
the following statement


       Polit Bureau Condemns Pre and Post Poll Violence in Bengal


The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) strongly condemns the series of attacks
against Party cadre and sympathizers in West Bengal by the Trinamool
Congress and in some areas by Congress workers which have been
accelerated in the post poll period. Two comrades, including a Forward
Bloc worker have been killed in the post poll period and hundreds have
been attacked and houses burnt. Women and children have not been spared.
Earlier, 26 comrades had been killed in the period between March 7 and
May 13. Three electoral officers were also killed by Maoists in a
landmine blast. After the polls a police officer was also killed by
these armed groups. 


The aim behind the violence unleashed primarily by the TMC is to
terrorise CPI(M) supporters and drive them out from selected areas, to
create lawlessness in the State, deliberately provoke intervention of
the police with the undemocratic aim to destabilize the elected state
Government and prevent it from working to implement pro-people
policies. 


These highly condemnable anti-democratic acts must be foiled. Elected
members of the TMC and Congress from West Bengal are presumably going to
be members of the Central Government. They have to ensure that the
democratic and constitutional rights are not trampled in the blatant
manner that is being done by their combine in West Bengal. 


The Polit Bureau while expressing its grief at the killing of Party
cadres and sympathizers, expresses its confidence that the peace loving
people of West Bengal will foil the conspiracies which seek to recreate
the anarchy and violence of the early seventies.


Some details of the attacks are as follows: 


In Murshidabad Parliamentary Constituency Congress miscreants killed
CPI(M) activist Com. Mantaj Sheikh. They unleashed terror in the
Raninagar area in which a police officer, Gopal Mandal was killed.


In Uluberia Parliamentary Constituency of Howrah, the Trinamool
activists attacked the entire areas of Chitnan gram panchayat and looted
and set fire to 43 houses. They tortured women and children. The
affected people are now being shifted to a temporary relief camp.


In Kaliaganj, Malda, thirty houses of party workers have been set on
fire.


In Birbhum Parliamentary Constituency the Trinamool goons attacked Com.
Dhiren Bagdi, MLA of Mahammadbazar Assembly Constituency. Now he is
under treatment in Suri Hospital. At least 15 party workers were injured
in this attack. The Trinamool goons set fire to a party camp office,
party vehicles and the red flags. In different areas of Birbhum like
Mahammadbazar, Murarai, Saintshia attacks are taking place in the name
of victory processions. In South 24-Parganas Falta Assembly constituency
on the day before the elections, TMC goons had physically attacked the
CPI(M) woman MLA Com Chandana Ghosh Dastidar and subjected her to abuse
and humiliation. She had to be hospitalized. Following the election
results she has again been threatened.


The Trinamool activists are continuing attacks in Tamluk, Mahisadal of
East Midnapore district. In Khejuri Trinamool has started its attack by
digging roads, setting fire to police vehicles and forcing poor people
to flee from their homes. Party workers and party offices have been
attacked in Kulpi, Canning and Kakdwip in South 24 Parganas district and
Rajarhat and Duttaspukur in North 24 Parganas district.


Reports of Trinamool attack on CPI(M) are coming from various areas of
West Bengal like Sitalkuchi of Coochbehar, Sabang in West Midnapore,
Bhangar in South 24 Parganas, Cooper’s Camp area of Nadia etc. 


The list of those killed is attached.
   List of those Killed in Pre and Post Poll Violence in West Bengal 

Date


Place


Name


March 7


Khejuri, Purba Medinipur


Subal Kajli


March 12


Bankura, Joypur Gram
Panchayat


Sayed Ali Bhunia


March 17


Patiram, Dakshin
Dinajpur


Ansar Ali


March 17


Boga, Purba Medinipur


Himadri Patra


March 18


Baharampore, Haridasmati
Panchayat

Bhulaveda, Paschim
Medinipur, Belpahari

Raina, Bardhaman

Titaghar, North 24
Parganas


Gopal Mondal

Durga Desowali

Santosh Mahato

Sohorabdewan

Bijoy Shaw


April 10


Bhulaveda, Paschim
Medinipur, Belpahari


Ashim Mondal


April 21


Salbani, Paschim
Medinipur

 


Hambir Mandi

Shakti Sen


April 23


Supurdi Gram Panchayat,
Purulia


Baikunta Mahato

Bibhuti Singh Sardar


April 27


Haripal Gram Panchayat,
Hooghly


Bhaben Dhig


April 30


Jhargram


Sanjoy Das, Prasad
Banerjee, Sougata
Karmakar (Electoral
Officers)


May 7


Uluberia, Howrah,
Jangirpur, Murshidabad


Manowar Ali, Chandu
Dalui, Kasinath Mondal


May 8


Bagnan, Howrah


Sk. Saidul, Sk. Babua


May 9


Nandigram, Purba
Medinipur


Abdulla Khan, Sk. Aksar


May 10


Tamluk, Purbo Medinipur


Shawuddin Khan


May 13


Canning, South 24
Parganas


Joynal Mollah


May 15


Bandoan, Purulia


Manu Sing


May 16


Raninagar, Murshidabad

Raninagar, Murshidabad


Mamtaz Shekh

Gopal Mondal (Police)


May 17


Chari Anantapur, Maldah


Arabinda Mondal (FB)




Total number of people killed 31

CPI(M) 26

FB 1

Police 1

Electoral Officers 3