Maoist 'Uprising' In Bengal

[Proudgrandson]

KOLKATA: Operation Lalgarh, as the Maoists want it to be known, was staring the government in the face, but it chose to wait and watch. Maoists went on a bloody rampage, bodies piled up, CPM leaders were massacred in their homes, and even Kolkata was held hostage for a day by armed Maoist-backed tribals. The government did nothing — not even ban the insurgent outfit in Bengal.

Bouyed by the success, the Maoists plan to replicate Operation Lalgarh in neighbouring Jharkhand, say intelligence findings communicated to the state home department. Now, with violence spiralling out of control, central forces are being rushed in. Five companies of CRPF, ie about 600 troops, will be on the ground in Lalgarh Wednesday morning to help contain the bloodshed.

Even as home secretary Ardhendu Sen insisted the administration ''took action as and when the situation demanded'', former police officers familiar with the area wondered how things slid to this pass. ''How? Everything was happening right there and happening for a long time. Let's face it, the administration preferred not to take timely action,'' said director-general of police Amiya Samanta wondered:

Said former IG Asim Chatterjee, ''Everything was taking place openly over a long period of time.'' According to the intelligence report, Operation Lalgarh went through five stages - like any other Maoist-backed uprising. The first stage was a survey, where the Naxalites would conduct a thorough study of the area, taking months before moving to the next stage. At this juncture, they would identify with the plight of the people. Subsequently, they would take locals' help in launching guerrilla warfare against the establishment. After such repeated attacks, they would step on to the climactic "liberation" phase — declaring the chosen zone as "muktanchal." But events took a drastic turn after the November 2 landmine explosion targeting chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee's convoy.

The attack was followed by a flurry arrests, including three teenage students Aben Murmu, Gautam Patra and Buddhadeb Patra, who were charged with waging war against the state, conspiracy, attempt to murder, using weapons and obstructing justice. More arrests followed till the night of November 6. Tribals started alleging police torture. Finally, a huge mob gheraoed Lalgarh police station.

What began as rumblings of protest eventually ended up in a mass uprising, with roads being dug up and tree cut down to obstruct entry of police vehicles. The People's Committee against Police Atrocities (PCPA) was formed. Police were boycotted. They could not even buy provisions from villages. And that was unique strategic point.

The Maoist upsurge (with PCPA in the forefront) spread like wildfire in a matter of months (November to June). Police were barred from even election duty. The administration was brought to its knees and the government agreed to a compromise with PCPA that policemen would not enter villages. Another victory for the Maoists. The guerrillas terror hung like a cloud over election as well. The story was retold in a meeting organized by Maoists on June 7. Operation Lalgarh became the high point of discussions among the organization's senior leaders. That's when they decided that replicating the movement elsewhere in the country, starting with Jharkhand, would be a good idea.

According to officials at Writers' Buildings, it made good sense to work out the strategy in Jharkhand where a near-liberated zone already exists - especially in areas like Latehar and Palamau districts. In fact, this part of the country, covering Orissa, Jharkhand and West Bengal, would soon emerge as the circuit for Maoists who are as active in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh.

...........................................................
Put up here just to keep everyone informed. ? how much blood has to be spilled before this situation hits the Western News. Or indeed before the Indian Paramilitary police forces get replaced by the army. Will be back on the Times of India website in the morning to check what happens when the CRPF get into the 'liberated zone.'

[Proudgrandson]

LALGARH, WEST BENGAL: With paramilitary forces planning a crackdown on Maoists who have laid siege to two police station areas in West Midnapore district, tribals backing them have put up a three-tier human shield.

"The Maoists have formed a three-tier human shield with women and children in the vanguard, men behind them and armed naxals forming the rearguard," a senior police official involved in the drawing up strategies against the agitators said.

The police have withdrawn from camps fearing looting of arms with the tribals under the People's Committee Against Police Atrocities demolishing and torching empty camps in the past few days, he said.

Maoist action squad leader, known as Bikash, and his men were patrolling roads between Lalgarh and Belpahari armed with AK47s, he said.

Last night the tribals set ablaze CPM party offices in Lalgarh and Belatikri and dug up roads leading to Lalgarh from Dharampur, Goaltore and Pirakata to prevent entry of central forces.

The digging up of roads and felling of trees was a tactic deployed since November last year by the tribals when they went on the warpath after police raids on their homes.

The police made the raids following a landmine blast at Salboni on November 2 in which West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and two then union ministers Ramvilas Paswan and Jitendra Prasad narrowly escaped.

Five CPM men have already been killed and four were missing after clashes with tribals in the past few days, while three more, including a Marxist local leader were shot dead this morning at Bankasole.

On Tuesday, chief secretary Asok Mohan Chakraborty said that 500 central paramilitary personnel have been sought from the Centre, with 100 men arriving in Lalgarh and 200-300 more personnel expected shortly.

Another officer said that for the last eight months Lalgarh has been out of bounds for the police, where they were being 'boycotted' by the tribals, who have demanded an apology for the police raids on their homes following the Salboni landmine blast.

"We had to withdraw our camps from Ramgar and Dharampur," said the officer.

The officer said Marxist leaders were being killed after being carefully targeted.

"They plan the operations in meticulous detail in forests, where it is impossible for the police to search for them," the officer said.

There's a BBC report here as well.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8104395.stm

[pg_ord]

Maoists surge: Use your own forces, Govt to Bengal (http://www.ndtv.com/news/india/maoists_kill_3_cpm_activists_in_lalgarh.php)

In a new development, the Centre has made it clear to the West Bengal government that they should use their own forces to control the situation in Lalgarh and it is the state government's primary responsibility to maintain law and order.

The home ministry has said that the paramilitary forces are being sent to the state only to assist the state police. The state government must use their own forces too in the trouble-torn districts.

The Centre has rushed 500 CRPF personnel to west Midnapore out of which 200 personnel have already reached the place and 300 more are expected to reach later on Wednesday.

Earlier, there was more Maoist violence in Lalgarh in West Midnapore district, which is less than 200 kilometers from West Bengal's capital Kolkata. They struck on Wednesday morning, killing three people and kidnapping three others.

The Maoists are still holding out, three days after laying siege to what was a CPM stronghold.

The three people who were killed on Wednesday morning at Debi Chowk village near Jhargram were all CPM activists.

Maoists also burnt down a CPM local committee members' house at Khorakata in Goaltore. The Lokhipur police station has been vandalised and three people have reportedly been kidnapped on Tuesday night.

There are reports that Maoists are digging up roads leading to Lalgarh and Central forces have been dispatched.

The Lalgargh siege by Maoists shows that they are now trying to expand their sphere of influence. Earlier, they used to operate out of the bordering state of Jharkhand. But about two years ago, they managed to set up base in Purulia and Bankura.

Now, they are trying to enter Lalgarh in west Midnapore and according to West Bengal police, the Maoists are also trying to extend their area of influence to Keshpur in west Midnapur district and Arambagh in Hoogly district.

[raavan]

Maoists surge: Use your own forces, Govt to Bengal (http://www.ndtv.com/news/india/maoists_kill_3_cpm_activists_in_lalgarh.php)
Wonderful ............nice plan let the commies kill each other.........wootwoot

[Proudgrandson]

Wonderful ............nice plan let the commies kill each other.........wootwoot

I've though about this for a while. The CPM are a party that is participating in the political process in India. The Maoists are a revolutionary movement attempting to overthrow State authority by violent means.

No news yet on the Police counter offensive that is being prepared. When that happens though there is a strong probability that it won't just be 'commies' who are dying.

[pg_ord]

I've though about this for a while. The CPM are a party that is participating in the political process in India.

Payback is a b*tch .... the Maoist do have real grievances. The CPM cadres which were part of the state govt until recent election subverted law themselves. They are the only cadres being targeted by the Maoist.... so far..

[Proudgrandson]

Payback is a b*tch .... the Maoist do have real grievances. The CPM cadres which were part of the state govt until recent election subverted law themselves. They are the only cadres being targeted by the Maoist.... so far..


I must confess that the Times of India only made those points clear in an article today, I'd assumed they had been elected legally. Well there the Maoists are now with a liberated zone, which if memory serves is phase 3 in the revolutionary blue print. Now if left in place it will be indocrtrination and further recruitment followed by repeating the process in surrounding areas. Driving out the police, killing political opposition, attacking security force convoys. Till if it goes far enough you have main force units being formed and pitched battles.

No mention of the CRPF going into action yet, deal with the militants and address the issues that caused this movement in the first place. Classic COIN solution. Don't leave them in charge for to long.

[pg_ord]

No mention of the CRPF going into action yet, deal with the militants and address the issues that caused this movement in the first place. Classic COIN solution. Don't leave them in charge for to long.
CRPF is well trained in COIN but are being asked to take a support role... for some reason Home Ministry has asked the state to take care of the issue. As per the Indian Constitution every state is responsible for its own law and order.... may be Home Ministry thinks with the new govt in place it can push the state police to perform. Let us see how this goes.

[Proudgrandson]

CRPF is well trained in COIN but are being asked to take a support role... for some reason Home Ministry has asked the state to take care of the issue.

I hope thats not just to score political points.

[pg_ord]

I hope thats not just to score political points.
Hopefully not .... The home minister like the PM is actually one of the few clean people in Indian politics.

[Proudgrandson]

LALGARH/KOLKATA: The Maoists are going for the kill in Bengal. On Wednesday, they launched an audacious raid on Jhargram town and killed three CPM men.

The Bengal government looked to the Centre for help, only to be told by Union home minister P Chidambaram that it should use its own police rather than depend on paramilitary forces to tackle the 'law and order problem'.

Chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee ordered a crackdown after a meeting of the Left Front but left it to police to decide the date. Home secretary Ardhendu Sen said state police would lead the assault, with central forces providing the "crucial back-up". A unit of Cobra — the elite anti-Naxalite force in Jharkhand — arrived at Kalaikunda late Wednesday night. Twelve more companies of central forces are coming in phases to Midnapore town, Sen said.

A pitched battle is on the cards in Maoist terrain. The guerrillas, however, shrugged off the crackdown threat. "We will use women in the forefront. Can the government stomach it if even three-four women get killed in the crossfire?" asked a Maoist leader.

With CPM cadres fleeing and police pulling out of many areas, the government will indeed find it tough to lead the counterattack. The chief minister is leaving for Delhi on Thursday evening to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday. There is a possibility that the administration may not be willing to take any tough action when the CM is not in station.

..................

Which potentially leaves the Maoists very well dug in by the time CM is not on station and increase's the cost in blood when law and order is restored. :| None of my business but consider just getting on with it!

Also I checked back on a few Times of India reports, a year ago Maoists were active in 167 districts of India!

[Proudgrandson]

Clashes at Maoist 'area' in India


http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/45942000/jpg/_45942274_007511688-1.jpg Protesters have blocked roads with trees to keep the authorities out


Indian security forces have clashed with protesters in the Lalgarh region of West Bengal state, where Maoist rebels have taken control. Hundreds of baton-wielding police charged and fired tear gas shells at a crowd of almost 3,000 in Pirakata.

Villagers backed by the rebels have blocked roads to prevent security forces from entering Lalgarh.

The state government has called in more than 1,000 paramilitary troops to retake the area after police fled.

Meanwhile, the bodies of four more communist workers have been found, taking the number of party workers killed in recent violence to 10.
The four bodies were found outside Lalgarh. The men were among six party workers who police suspect were kidnapped by the rebels.
Maoist-linked violence has killed 6,000 people in India over the past 20 years.

'Bloodbath' fears

Reports from Lalgarh say tension is running high in the area as the villagers have formed "human shields" to prevent the security forces from moving in and wresting control of the area.

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/45936000/gif/_45936089_india_wbengal_midnapore_recut_17.06.09.gif
West Bengal interior minister Ardhendu Sen has appealed to villagers to allow the security forces to enter Lalgarh.

"Please don't get used by the Maoists. Please move away. We don't want a bloodbath," Mr Sen said in an appeal to the villagers.

Separately, rebel leader Kishanji told the BBC in a telephone interview that the federal and state governments should stop troops from entering the area.

He said the government should hold meetings with the local people to learn about their grievances.

The tribespeople-dominated Lalgarh area in West Bengal's West Midnapore district has been under the virtual control of the rebels since November.
Armed rebels are now reportedly patrolling roads there.

Over the past few days, villagers backed by the rebels have taken over more villages in the area and burnt down and demolished offices belonging to the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist), or CPI(M).

'Liberated zone'
The BBC's Amitabh Bhattashali in Calcutta says hundreds of CPI(M) workers have left Lalgarh in recent days.

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/45935000/jpg/_45935692_cpmofficelalafp226.jpg
Communist party offices have been set on fire by villagers in Lalgarh

Maoists claimed it as their first "liberated" zone in West Bengal.
Our correspondent says that taking control of Lalgarh is part of a long-term plan for the Maoists.

The area encompasses vast tracts of the forests of West Midnapur, Purulia and Bankura districts of West Bengal and adjoins parts of the states of Jharkhand and Orissa.

Violence in Lalgarh began last November after West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya narrowly escaped a landmine blast blamed on the rebels.

Protests were launched when a number of locals were arrested on suspicion of attempting to assassinate him.

[pg_ord]

Security forces advance into Maoist-held Lalgarh (http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/000200906181921.htm)

Lalgarh (West Bengal) (IANS): Advancing security forces lobbed tear gas shells and made a baton charge to break a 'human wall' put up by Maoist cadres, armed with bows and arrows and pickaxes, in this troubled zone as West Bengal's Communist government launched a massive operation Thursday to free the region of left extremists.
Two rebels as well as a lensman accompanying the security forces were injured, eyewitnesses said. There was no police confirmation of the news.
A day after being prodded by the centre to reclaim this headquarters of Binpur 1 community development block in West Midnapore district, 200 km form state capital Kolkata, from the Maoists, the state police personnel, backed by the central forces, moved in from their base camp at nearby Pirakata for 'Operation Lalgarh'.
However, soon after, the forces came up against a 'human wall' at Malida, as hundreds of tribals carrying traditional weapons like bows and arrows, shovels, pickaxes and canes blocked the way by felling big trees on the road as they shouted slogans like "Inqilab Zindabad" and "Maoism zindabad".
Using megaphones, the police warned the protesters to move away and clear the roads, but getting no response from the other side, the security forces started removing the tree trunk when they suddenly saw two Maoists standing in the nearby field with assault rifles. Immediately, the well-armed central forces came to the frontlines and the Maoists beat a hasty retreat.
The police started baton charging and lobbing tear gas shells, and succeeded in dispersing the protestors at that spot. "We will see how far we can go today (Thursday). Our target is to reach Lalgarh police station," a police officer told accompanying journalists. Two of the protesters were injured in the baton charge, while a lensman also sustained injuries.
The police raided some houses in the vicinity and detained a few people before resuming their 'Operation Lalgarh'.
Five companies of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and two companies of the Cobra Force, specially trained to combat Maoists, reached the district headquarters Midnapore town Wednesday. A large quantity of tear gas shells and protective shields have been provided to the security personnel.
Earlier in the day, the personnel from the central and state security forces were briefed at the Pirakata base camp to conduct a joint operation to flush out Maoist guerrillas who have been active in organising a tribal movement alongside a group called the People's Committee Against Police Atrocities (PCAPA).
"We have moved forces in the morning," Inspector General of Police Raj Kanojia told IANS.
On Wednesday, the state government had declared that it was ready to launch an operation to free Lalgarh from the control of the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) even as the guerrillas shot dead three workers of the ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist(CPI-M).
In response, a top rebel leader said the central and state governments had started psychological warfare against the people in Lalgarh with its show of force.
"The prime minister (Manmohan Singh) and home minister (P. Chidambaram) have started a psychological warfare by amassing huge forces. If they start the operations, we will resist with the help of the people who are with us," CPI-Maoist politburo member Kishanjee told a television channel over phone.
Kishanjee alias K. Koteshwar Rao hails from Andhra Pradesh but has been camping in Lalgarh. He said the rebel group has decided to call for a two-day shutdown beginning Monday in West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Orissa, Jharkhand and Bihar.
He also demanded that the centre and state government should apologise to the tribal people of Lalgarh if they wanted a peaceful and amicable resolution to the stand-off.
Lalgarh has been on the boil since last November when a landmine exploded on the route of the convoy of Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and then central ministers Ram Vilas Paswan and Jitin Prasada.
Police arrested some school students and allegedly harassed tribal women following the landmine blast. In protest, angry tribals virtually cut off the area from the rest of the district.
During the last few days, the agitators have torched CPI-M offices, driven away the party's supporters and forced police to wind up several camps, thereby establishing a virtual free zone.
Maoists have been active in the three western districts of the state - West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia. They also backed the Trinamool-sponsored movement against the state government's bid to establish a chemical hub at Nandigram in East Midnapore district.
Too early to judge ... need to wait to see how this pans out.

[SwordFish_13]

I've though about this for a while. The CPM are a party that is participating in the political process in India. The Maoists are a revolutionary movement attempting to overthrow State authority by violent means.

No news yet on the Police counter offensive that is being prepared. When that happens though there is a strong probability that it won't just be 'commies' who are dying.

Maoists Killing Marxist and Leninist hmm .. way to go .. CPM has been providing their Maoists brothers with weapons and logistics .. Now the same guns are killing them ... We need to get rid of these commies be it Maoists , Marxist or Leninist.

Since the Naxalbari uprising of the 1960s that time CPM laid the siege. they has been ruling the state .. Now the CPM is on the receiving end .. you get what you sow .

[pg_ord]

Central forces, police begin operations in Lalgarh (http://www.hindu.com/2009/06/19/stories/2009061957230100.htm)
http://www.hindu.com/2009/06/19/images/2009061957230101.jpg

Cracking the whip: The West Bengal police, backed by Central paramilitary forces, swung into action against lawlessness in Lalgarh on Thursday. In the photograph, supporters of the Maoist-backed People’s Committee Against Police Atrocities are being rounded up near Pirakata in West Medinipur.
Five companies of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) reached the Pirakata police outpost in the morning and began operations from there, 18 km away from Lalgarh, around 4.15 p.m. along with two companies of the State Armed Police and one company of the Border Security Force.

Earlier in the day, the bodies of four activists of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) were found at Goaltore, about 30 km from here. They had gone missing since Tuesday. Supporters of the PSJBC blocked the road leading to Lalgarh at numerous places by felling trees and placing boulders. They had even dug up the roads at some places. “We will fight till the end and will shed our last drop of blood to defend our land,” Prasanta Mahato, a local PSBJC leader, said.

Referring to the operation, Home Secretary Ardhendu Sen said: “It is extremely tough. So long there has been no major confrontation but that does not mean it will not occur in the future.”

[Proudgrandson]

Latest report. More killings by the Maoists.

CPM leader among four killed in clashes

19 Jun 2009, 0437 hrs IST, Caesar Mondal & Jayanta Gupta, TNN

LALGARH/BINPUR (WEST MIDNAPORE): As Bengal launched a counter-offensive against the Maoists, the attacks on CPM cadres continued near Jhargram. Maoists brutally murdered a CPM leader and three others near Goaltore. The bodies, with throats slit and buried in a patch of 'shaal' forest, were found early Thursday.

Families of the dead were left watching the corpses decompose in the heat as police stayed away. "If we cremate them, how will we prove that they were murdered? Will you ask the police to come," a kin of one of the victims pleaded with TOI. In the attacks since the CPM was routed in LS polls, nearly 30 people have been killed, mostly CPM local leaders and activists.

CM Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee has left the door open for talks. Before leaving for Delhi on Thursday, the CM appealed to villagers to distance themselves from Maoists. Bhattacharjee will meet PM Manmohan Singh and Union home minister P Chidambaram on Friday.

[pg_ord]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaPIGtacuVg

[Proudgrandson]

LALGARH/NEW DELHI: Police backed by paramilitary personnel on Friday continued their surge towards reclaiming Lalgarh from Maoist stranglehold drawing retaliation from the ultras and triggering a gunbattle as tribals blew up a bridge and set off a landmine in a bid to stop the security forces.

Maoists detonated a landmine targeting a police jeep on Friday evening injuring two policemen at Pirakata bazar as the joint operation entered the second day. The jeep which was at the rear of a convoy of vehicles of journalists came under attack as soon as it passed the area, police said.

Earlier in the day, the security forces moved from Pirakata where they had halted for the night and moved to Koima some distance away on the road to Lalgarh, 23 km away.

The securitymen moved carefully sweeping the area with mine detectors and moving door to door in villages asking residents to keep indoors.

Top Maoist leader Koteshwar Rao, who had been camping in Lalgarh for the last few days spearheading the agitation, is said to have escaped along with six other leaders.

With Jhitka jungle a Maoist-hit area, the security personnel in armoured cars and high-axle trucks moved with extra caution.

In Delhi, home minister P Chidambaram said the Maoists should lay down arms and come for talks, endorsing an appeal made to them by chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee.

[Proudgrandson]

PIRAKATA (WB): Security forces on Saturday entered Lalgarh to reclaim it from Maoist-backed tribals and were closing in on the police station there.

The personnel of paramilitary forces and the state police were just two km away from the Lalgarh police station, which is under Maoist control, a senior police officer said.

The securitymen from CRPF, BSF, State Armed Police, Eastern Frontier Rifles and the Kolkata Police entered the besieged area after crossing a five-km stretch of the Jhitka forest, a Maoist stronghold, he said.

They were moving in armoured vehicles fitted with anti-landmine devices and mortars and were carrying mine-detecting units.

The security forces were moving cautiously for the last two days to avoid civilian casualties. They checked the route with mine detectors yesterday as tribals blew up a bridge and set off a landmine in a bid to stall their advance.

AK-47 and Insas rifle-toting securitymen came under intermittent fire from Maoists at the Pingboni-Sarenga road today, Superintendent of Police Burdwan Humayan Kabir said.

Two landmines planted on the road, which was also blocked with felled trees, were defused, Kabir, who was leading one of three teams headed for Lalgarh from Binpur, said.

Another two teams were led by IGP (HQ) Harmanpreet Singh and Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Ranvir Kumar.

A bridge over a shallow river which had been blown up earlier by Maoists created a temporary obstacle, but it could be crossed on foot.

Last night, the Maoists fired on the Lalgarh police station, with the police retaliating.

When the security forces were driving from Pingboni, they were obstructed by a number of women.

Firefights with the Maoists occurred at two places between Pirakata and Bhimpur and near Pingboni last night with the villagers fleeing to safety, the police said.

Lalgarh has been out of bounds for the police since the landmine attack near Salboni on the convoy of Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and then union ministers Ramvilas Paswan and Jitin Prasada in November last year.

The tribals under the banner of the People's Committee against Police Atrocities, led by Chhatradhar Mahato, had begun boycotting the police since the last few months. They allege that the police indulged in "atrocities" during raids on their homes following the landmine blast.

[pg_ord]

Kolkata's missing millionaires and Lalgarh (http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/onefortheroad/entry/kolkata-s-missing-millionaires-and)
Gives deeper insight into the policy of commies.

Apart from the blood and blotch of Nandigram, and the nightmare that Lalgarh is turning out to be, there was one more, very telling, bad news that came from Bengal in recent times – that Kolkata, its capital city, could only notch up an abysmal number 26 on the list of India's rich cities. Anger has a deep connection with economics and politics. Lalgarh was waiting to happen.

Of course, chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and his comrade-in-arms would dismiss with practiced disdain the fact that Kolkata isn’t rich enough, but there's more to it that what the ruling Marxists would like us to believe. Bengal is just not creating any wealth, opportunity or even employment for its people.

For a city Kolkata's size, with an un-updated population of 15 million, drumming up a mere 15,853 millionaires hides a nightmarish horror tale. A comparison with the other three metros makes the city's tragedy quite clear. Comparable to Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore in both size and number of people – even modern history one would say, which has not been as violent and marginalizing as that of, perhaps, the North-East states – Kolkata figures nowhere even remotely near the 137,992, 100,039 and 104,852 millionaires that India's other main cities have to show for themselves. If the pathos has to be rubbed in just take a look at what Chandigarh, a city with a population 15 times less, has achieved. The rich list shows Le Corbusier's masterpiece showing off an applause-worthy 33,962 millionaires, twice that of Kolkata!

So what is the problem with the state that was one of the first ones to pick up the Queen's English, don the suit-and-tie and use fork and spoon to pick on eileesh. Anyone watching Bengal's steady decline will lay the blame squarely on the politics the state has come to understand and the ideology it has grown to adopt. It is something that fosters sloth, decay and, if truth be told, degeneration.

Some time ago, as I was sitting in one of Bandra's popular pubs, an ad-executive friend of mine recounted with shock how on visit to Kolkata a few years back he was stuck in the middle of Esplanade for a full 20 minutes in a tram that stopped because of a power cut. ``The crazy part was that no one was in a hurry to go anywhere,'' he said. ``In Bombay, people would have fidgeted after five minutes, crossed the tracks and moved on with their lives.''

True, that's probably what would have happened. But Kolkata isn't Mumbai. The politics won't let it be. In a May 2005 report titled `A tale of two states: Maharashtra and West Bengal', prepared by University of British Columbia professor Amartya Lahiri and economist Kei-Mu Yi, there is a clear link between economic evolution and political environment. Spanning the years between 1961 and 1991, the duo says that ``Bengal, which was one of the two richest states in India in 1960 has gone from a relative per capita income of about 105% of Maharashtra to a relative income of around 69%''. One of the important factors responsible for its woes, the economists say, is ``political development…namely the increasing vote share of the Leftist parties''.

No wonder then that the per capita income (2003-04 figures) of West Bengal in the 30 years since the state got its first Marxist chief minister stands at just Rs 20,896, much below those of Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Sikkim, Chandigarh, Delhi, Puducherry.

Nandigram and the millionaires' list, at two ends of the spectrum, should come as a deep pointer to the politics in comrade country. Large parts of Bengal are not even on the fringes of the IT revolution or the economic boom and brim with people who resemble those angry coalminers in Yash Chopra's 1979 classic Kaala Patthar – desperate, hungry, shorn of comforts and hanging on to whatever there is to be had from Party and profession. And the lorai, lorai korte hobe (fight, fight, we must fight) battle cry of the Left parties only serves as a trigger to a fury ready to be unleashed by the mostly-poor cadres. The Frankenstein’s monster that Lalgarh is had to come to life.

It serves perfectly fine for the ideology-spewing bhadralok neta swearing by everybody from Marx to Stalin, Lenin to Castro, Che to Chavez – and even Prachanda – to ``keep `em poor and burning''. That is why the Communists have through the years protested, often scuttled, everything needed for upliftment of people, from introduction of English in junior classes to multinationals setting up businesses. Because money brings comfort and comfort has an intrinsic liking for capitalism.

It isn't any surprise, therefore, that industrialization continues to be a taboo word in this part of the world. Just try investing some money in Purulia or the Parganas. It isn't easy. What is easy, though, is calling bandhs and blocking people from reaching offices, schools, factories.

Lalgarh has just emphasized how hard change is come by in Bengal. But until that happens, Kolkata will not be able to show up its millionaires and Bengal its progress. A mighty tragedy for a mighty state.
Note bangalore (my city) has half the population of kolkata but has more "rich people" and no naxal problems in the state.

[pg_ord]

Halt operations, start talks: Maoist leader (http://www.hindu.com/2009/06/21/stories/2009062160450800.htm)

KOLKATA: Top ranking Maoist leader Koteshwar Rao alias Kishenji, who is believed to have played a key role in the outfit’s activities in the troubled Lalgarh area of Paschim Medinipur district, said on Saturday the West Bengal government should halt security operations in the region and sit for talks with the local people to find a solution to their problems.
“If the Left Front government wants discussions with the people of Lalgarh, the operation by the police and the security forces against them should end by this afternoon,” Mr. Rao, a member of the Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Maoist) told a local television channel.
The Maoist leader, who claimed to be in the Lalgarh area, said Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee should go to Dalilpur Chak and talk to the people. The State government should not “dance to the tune of the Prime Minister or the Union Home Minister.”
If the State government wanted to avoid bloodshed, it should take a stand of its own, Mr. Rao said.
Meanwhile, Chief Secretary Ashok Mohan Chakraborty said there was no possibility of talks with those responsible for killing nurses, doctors and election workers (referring in the last instance to the killing of poll personnel there after the Lok Sabha elections last month).
“What talks can we have with such people,” Mr. Chakraborty asked here.
He was responding to a question whether the government was ready for talks with the Maoists.
On the situation in Lalgarh, the Chief Secretary said restoring normality there was one of the main tasks before the administration.
“Schools would have to be reopened, ration shops would need to become operational again. Block and panchayat offices would also have to start running again. We also have to stop extortion of money from common people.”

[Skutatos]

The world seems to be coming apart this week. Protests and violence all over.

[Proudgrandson]

LALGARH: Men have deserted their homes and women and children were going hungry for the past three days after the crackdown by police and central forces in Lalgarh in West Midnapore district.

"The men have fled. We could not enter the forest for collecting firewood. The road to the nearby market of Lalgarh and Jhargram town is blocked," said Sandhya Murmu of Pirakata village who has been going hungry with her daughter since yesterday.

The men were being targetted by both security forces and tribals under the banner of Maoist-backed People's Committee against Police Atrocities (PCPA). While the police were harassing them for getting information about Maoists, PCPA leaders were pressurising them to join their agitation, she said.

Most tribal families who made a living by selling forest products were running short of money and food.

People were fleeing down the road to Jhargram saying they would take shelter with their relatives, a PTI correspondent found.

Sailen Mahato, an elderly resident of Pathardoba village near Lalgarh said, "My stationery stall is lying closed since the crackdown began three days ago. We are left with four kilograms of rice and there are four mouths to feed."

Lakshman Tudu, a daily-wage worker in a small unit in Midnapore town said he could not go to work for the past three days and was worried he would run out of money.

.....................

Its always civilians who pay the price.

[Proudgrandson]

PIRAKATA: The message from Writers' Buildings to show a human face while dealing with the warring populace in Lalgarh apparently hasn't reached the

force. Why else would a section of the state armed police (SAP) — terrified of IED explosions - catch hold of local youths and force them to poke around for hidden mines and explosives?

Acts like this will trigger more calls for vengeance and lead people to doubt the sincerity of the government's attempts to pacify the tribal villagers. It also exposes the lack of preparedness of the administration.

There are just two CID bomb disposal experts stationed at Lalgarh. A second team is kept in reserve in Midnapore town to be deployed in case of 'VIP movement'. A third is cooling its heels in Kolkata. There is not a single explosives expert with police forces anywhere else in the war zone.

Ever since Friday evening's blast at Kuldiha, in which the Domkal SDPO's vehicle was hit and three policemen were injured, police have been wary of such attacks. The moment they come across any culvert, many policemen are scared to cross, fearing that Maoists might have planted an IED.

Four blasts and half a dozen gunbattles have been reported ever since forces started their march to Lalgarh. Though no policeman has died, the guerrillas have scored a psychological victory — they have sown the seeds of fear and anxiety. It's this fear that has led some policemen, who are themselves not trained to detect explosives, to force local youth to do the dangerous job for them.

Eighteen-year-old Shambhu Ghosh, Madan Mahato (20) and Shakti Ghosh (23) from Dhangori village were among the unlucky locals. They have been on the run since last Thursday when security forces entered the village searching for Maoists.

On Sunday morning, they were having breakfast at a roadside eatery, close to the Pirakata camp, when a team of policemen surrounded them. One of them asked if they were from Dhangori village.

"When we said yes, they asked us where we had been hiding for the last three days? We didn't give any answer. One of the policeman grabbed us by our collars and threatened to arrest us of we didn't work for them," Shambhu said.

The two were taken to Pirakata camp and given three-foot-long S-shaped rods (possibly taken from a construction site). They're then told to scan for any suspicious object — say, an abandoned bag or a box — lying on the roadside and use the rod to poke around and see if it triggers an explosion.

.............

Something going very wrong if this is true!

[pg_ord]

Something going very wrong if this is true!
Nothing surprising actually .... 30 years of commie rule has corrupted every state machinery .... now under center directive you are clearly seeing how incompetent the state police has become. You have a state government that is scared now of losing power, not only that the state government is broke without money to even fund the rations for state police carrying out operations. :-(
CRPF on the other hand is well trained and well stocked in every department.
I hope both CPI(M) and Maoist are completely decimated when the operations are over.

[Proudgrandson]

Nothing surprising actually .... 30 years of commie rule has corrupted every state machinery .... now under center directive you are clearly seeing how incompetent the state police has become. You have a state government that is scared now of losing power, not only that the state government is broke without money to even fund the rations for state police carrying out operations. :-(
CRPF on the other hand is well trained and well stocked in every department.
I hope both CPI(M) and Maoist are completely decimated when the operations are over.

This backs this up...can the CRPF not just take over command?

Ops getting nowhere due to lack of strategy: Cops


GOALTORE/SARENGA: Security forces out to take on Maoists through Pirakata may have surprised Maoists and quickly reached the Lalgarh police station, but there's complete chaos on the other fronts: Lower-rung officers leading the other teams through Sarenga and Galtore are complaining of lack of strategy to hold on to the gains and mount a counter-offensive.

Officers in Goaltore and Sarenga said they had received no reports from senior officers stationed elsewhere on how to go about countering the insurgents. "There are no inputs and no strategy in operations at places away from Lalgarh," the officers said.

Though they have been frantically calling senior officers at Lalgarh to find out how they have to act, they claimed they were being kept in the dark. At Gaoltore, where the police had been driven out of Pingboni on Saturday evening, there had been no reinforcement despite repeated SOS on advance of Maoists.

"From our side, the operations are getting nowhere. We are aware of Maoist movements through this area. We have not received any orders. Nor do we have adequate strength to move ahead," an officer at Goaltore said. The officers also complained that they are leading a band of men not trained in counter-insurgency operations. "There has been no training or briefing on how to operate in this situation," another officer said.

The absence of curfew, particularly after dark, is posing a big hurdle. "Without curfew, one cannot restrict the movement of people and the force cannot advance as there is always a possibility of the Maoists outflanking and cutting off the rear. As operations cannot be carried out after sunset, we require more personnel to hold on to the positions that we gain during the day. The entire exercise is turning out to be futile," another officer said.

Absence of mine sweeping vehicles has slowed the progress of forces. "We are moving at a snail's pace as the area is fraught with danger. The order to move is generally after 2pm and that gives us precious little time to make ground before dusk sets in," the officer said.

[pg_ord]

This backs this up...can the CRPF not just take over command?
Ops getting nowhere due to lack of strategy: Cops

P Chidambaram (home minister) is trying to strike a delicate balance actually. He does not want to come of as a person trying to score political points :roll: . He does not want to overstep states machinery but at the same time wants punitive action taken.... But personally speaking I would to see CRPF take over.:-(

You can actually in TV interviews see some CPI(M) rabidly accusing the center of supporting Maoist. :roll: