Kolkata: Police have stepped up security and began an inquiry after sheets of paper carrying messages like “We want Subhendu Adhikari’s head,” found in West Midnapore’s Lalkali area. Police suspect that it may the handiwork of Maoists. Villagers spotted the sheets a day after four persons, two of them alleged to be students, were arrested on sedition charge in Jangalmahal. Police claimed to have recovered “Maoist leaflets” from their possession.
Superintendent of Police Alok Rajoria said, “We are trying to find out who is behind these posters. It seems a lot of people are involved. There is no reason to panic. Prima facie, this incident has no connection with the arrests of suspected Maoists.” Sources said that apart from state minister Adhikari, the sheets also carry threats to local TMC MLA Srikanto Mahato.
A team from Gurguripal police station rushed to the spot soon after local villagers found the sheets carrying messages written in red ink, scattered on the ground. Some of the messages also targeted the government. One read, “We are with you to stand against the TMC government’s corrupt policies.” A few weeks ago, the police had recovered similar posters in Jhargram sub-division’s Jambani block. Sources said the recent developments indicated the possibility of guerrilla movement in the area, which is close to the Jharkhand border. After the recent deaths of a DD cameraman, a constable and an assistant constable in a Maoist ambush in Dantewada, police are taking no chances and have intensified anti-Maoist operations in the area, they added.
Ranjit Sur, vice-president of the Association for Protection of Democratic Rights (APDR), which had protested against the arrests, said, “Murder threats to anyone is not acceptable and we condemn such action. However, everyone has a right to protest. The recent arrests of students from Jangalmahal shows that not even minimum democracy is left under this new government. On what ground have they been arrested? Even if they belong to a Maoist organisation, police cannot arrest them unless they are found committing a crime.”
He added, “The current situation of Jangalmahal is evident from the recent deaths in Lalgarh. Seven tribals died of disease in Jhargram over the last fortnight and the government had no idea about it. Despite all this they say ‘Jangalmahal hasche’ (Jangalmahal is smiling)…”
The Committee for Release of Political Prisoners also condemned the arrests in a statement which read, “One of them, Sanjiv Mazumdar, is the assistant secretary of our organisation. They were picked up by police and kept in lock-up for two days. They were produced in the court after two days. They were beaten up brutally in lock up. Tipu Sultan (also arrested), who is a student, also received serious injuries. Our organisation condemns such atrocities and demands serious action…”
