After One and a half year thousands of supporters of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), who were forced to fled Lalgarh and its adjoining areas in West Bengal's Paschim Medinipur district in the wake of the Maoist onslaught, returned to their homes on Sunday.
Holding the revolutionary flags of CPI(M), 12,000 people marched 12 kms from Dharampur and Goaltore to Lalgarh led by CPI(M) zonal committee secretary of Lalgarh Anuj Pandey,. They reopened the CPI(M) local committee office in Lalgarh, which has remained closed since 16 June 2009. Some of the supporters carried traditional bows and arrows and raised slogans against Maoists and PCPA. The marchers went round the Lalgarh market and held a rally in front of the Lalgarh CPI(M) office. In June last year, Maoists had attacked the premises of the CPI (M) office at Lalgarh and the home of the party's zonal committee secretary, Anuj Pandey. The homes of other supporters were also attacked and many were forced to leave their homes.
The supporters on reaching Lalgarh reopened the CPI-M party office which was torched by the Maoists and Anuj Pandey unfurled the party flag. Speaking at the rally, Pandey said, "Some people in the name of politics want disturbance in the area, but we are peace-loving people and we want peace." He said in the last two years 58 CPI-M activists were murdered. He requested the youths of the area not to be under the influence of Maoists and come back to the mainstream.
It is hoped that the rally will boost the spirits of those who are yet to return to their homes and encourage them to do so, said Mr. Pandey, who himself came back to his home in September this year. “Thousands returned to their homes today, but there are many others who are still unable to do so. The homes of many are yet to be repaired, but the situation is slowly returning to normalcy,” Mr. Pandey told.
On being asked about the numerous other party supporters who remain refugees, particularly in the district's Jhargram area as well as in Bankura and Purulia districts, CPI(M) State secretary Biman Bose said, “A resistance does not emerge in a single day.”
Admitting that those who were driven out of their homes had suffered and others continue to do so, he asked the supporters not retaliate with violence. “They have lost a lot and (have) suffered tremendously. Their homes have been broken down, but there is no need for any counter-violence. The Left Front does not believe in politics of counter-violence,” he said.
When asked if the development will bolster the claims made by Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee that the joint-operations were being used by the CPI(M) to regain a foothold in Maoist affected areas, Mr. Bose said, “there is nothing new in that claim.”
“She has been demanding a withdrawal of security forces from those areas as she does not want a situation of normalcy to return. The Trinamool Congress, Maoists and PSBJC have only one aim – to terrorise the villagers and they want the present situation to prevail,” he added.
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