West Bengal: Battle heads north, CPIM activist killed

A CPM supporter was killed and two others were injured when they were allegedly attacked by bandh enforcers in Jalpaiguri district on Tuesday.

The CPI(ML)’s Mahadev Mukherjee faction had called a bandh in Naxalbari and Siliguri region today to mark the death anniversary of CPI-ML founding member Charu Mazumdar, who died while in jail after being arrested by Kolkata Police in July 1972.

The killing of Ananda Das (28) at Tantidoba set off fear among the CPM in the region. Former CPM MP and Jalpaiguri Sadar zonal committee secretary Jiten Das said such violence had never taken place in the past three decades when this day was observed by the CPI-ML with a bandh. “It seems like the winds from South Bengal are blowing this way,” Das said, referring to the attacks on CPM men by Maoists in affected districts like West Midnapore and Purulia.

“Ananda was a member of our youth wing, the DYFI. He runs a small shop in his village. This morning, he went with some friends to open his shop when several CPI-ML supporters turned up and asked him to keep his shop closed. An argument ensued and the CPM supporters were attacked with sharp weapons. Ananda died on the way to the North Bengal Medical College & Hospital,” Das said.

Jalpaiguri SP Anant Kumar said so far three persons have been arrested in connection with the murder. He said the injured, Sudhanshu Burman and Dwijen Roy, were recovering in a hospital. “Raids are going on in the area. The assailants have fled into the forests across the Teesta canal. This is the first time such violence has erupted on this day. We are investigating all angles,” Kumar said.

CPM sources said the area, including a large part of the forests, have been encircled by party cadres and supporters in a bid to nab the culprits. Senior police officers said CPM supporters were involved in the police search. They added that the CPM men had been asking villagers in the area to open their shops in defiance of the bandh call, when the bandh enforcers landed up armed with sharp weapons. A scuffle broke out between the CPM men and CPI-ML (Mahadev Mukherjee) supporters during which Das received severe injuries on his abdomen.

Police said CPI- ML (Mahadev Mukherjee) has organisational presence in Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Bengal and Delhi.

It is known to back armed struggle and hold rallies and mass meetings in Naxalbari and Siliguri regions. The last recorded rally was in Naxalbari in May 2006.

CPM bandh cripples life in Sonarpur
Life was disrupted in Sonarpur area of South 24-Parganas on Tuesday with the CPM calling a 12-hour bandh to protest against the attack on Sonarpur CPM MLA Shyamal Naskar, allegedly by Trinamool Congress supporters at Subhasgram on Sunday. Naskar, who had suffered serious head injuries during the attack, is still in hospital.

A 10-member delegation of Left Front MLAs from the district submitted a memorandum to Superintendent of Police Ajey Ranade in the afternoon, demanding that the culprits be arrested. They also sought security for the MLAs. Ranade said two persons, of the nine named in the FIR, have been arrested.

“The bandh passed off peacefully. No violence or untoward incidents were reported,” he said. Police said bandh supporters used tree trunks to block roads, causing disruption in traffic movement. Markets remained closed, while schools, colleges and educational institutions remained open. Train services operated as usual. On Sunday, besides Naskar, CPM zonal secretary Kajal De was also attacked and injured when he was leading a rally. ENS