Police lathicharge villagers at Lalgarh

Police today resorted to lathicharge on the villagers of Dharampur, near Lalgarh, when they protested outside the police camp there, demanding that the camp be shifted out of the school premises. About 500 villagers of Dharampur, including school students, today rallied up to the police camp in Dharampur, amed with traditional weapons, and demonstrated outside the camp. Many of them owe allegiance to the maoist backed PCPA (peoples committee against police atrocities).

The villagers demanded that the camp there, alonwith the other camps throughout the Lalgarh region be immediately shifted out of the numerous schools, as it was affecting hundreds of local students. They allegedly tried to storm into the school premises, housing the camp, when the police had to lob tear gas, and lathicharge. Many of those injured included students in uniforms.

For the last two weeks, villagers in Lalgarh have been protesting against the police camps inside schools, and have stepped up their agitation against it.

Many view this as a tactic to levy pressure on the joint forces and administration, as the villagers still suspect the police of their intentions.

Thaindian