I.   Atrocities of the CPI(M)

We had heard the roar of the revolution at Naxalbari, but the same could not be said about Gorbeta block of Midnapore district. Yet this area had once seen waves of revolts during the British period. This is the land of the Layak revolt of 1799, which engulfed the area from Gorbeta to Ghatal, including Guwaltore and Vishnupur, under the leadership of Rani Shiromani of Gorbeta and Achal Singh of Vishnupur along with Basant Roy of Chandra Kona Road. The Layaks are generally peasants, who had sacrificed their lives in this revolt.

According to the statements of old peasant women there remained Communist Party of India influence in the area. Comrade Saroj Roy who had previously been an anarchist became the leader of the Communist Party. He had been sentenced to life imprisonment at Port Blair on the Andaman island. Here four prisoners tried to break out of the cellular jail. While three were recaptured, Saroj Roy was able to escape with the help of a Muslim "Khalassi" (Boatman). During the 1940s movement, he had participated in all the struggles against the Britishers. After 1947 he concentrated in this area under the leadership of the Communist Party of India, i.e., in Gorbeta and Guwaltore. Land movements were started in this area in 1957, 1960 and 1970 Saroj Roy remained in the CPI(M). He died later . Mainly students joined the CPI(M), and the peasantry remained with the CPI. Thus, there was no impact of Naxalbari here.

After the split in the party, some people of this area went to the CPM in 1972. Later the CPM government gave pattas of land and built the party after 1977. In the 1987 elections, inner party contradictions within the CPM came to the surface. In Midnapore district, the people have seen two groups within the CPM not only in every block, but also in every village. One group was under the leadership of Deepak Sarcar, district party secretary and Sushant Ghosh Transport minister of state, and the other group belonged to the lobby of Tarun Roy a state committee member from the district, along with Kishan Pal district committee members. Their sons were once collaborating with the BJP (but not now). Each group tries to bypass the other.

Let us go back to the first phase and analyse the real situation in this area, as, our media remains mum. As we have already mentioned, the peasants remained in the CPM, while students joined the CPM, so there was a Students Federation of India (SFI) in the district. In 1984-85, an organiser organised 35 students on Naxal politics in Kumar Pukar collage (Hoogli) and they started going to the village to propagate their politics issuing posters and pamphlets. Our readers are well aware, that, to curb any opposition, the CPM resorts to the most cruel methods, which even puts the Hitlerian fascists to shame. When the CPM came to know of this group, it started harassment of these students in the Kumar Pukar collage hostels. They would beat and torture the students and later even started their terror in the rural area against the village people who had sympathy with Naxal politics.

The people of village Kashtogurha Gram of Gorbeta block of Midnapore district have narrated the following :-

When the CPM began its terror in the area, some 200 students and youth organised a peaceful protest march against these atrocities. The CPM retaliated wildly. They gathered 1000 people, along with all the local goondas and misguided the people, that, these youth were anti-social elements (even the pliant media supported this). The CPM ‘heroes’ led their one thousand people, along with the goondas and gheraoed the protesters from all sides. The attack was very fierce. Most youth some how escaped, 50 were caught and kept in the primary school building. They were cruelly tortured. They were beaten on the nose with shoes; the nails of their fingers were pulled out; iron rod were used to break their heads and the joints of their hands and feet; and later they got them arrested. All of them became handicapped. The Red Flag brand of Naxal leadership that organised this group did not resist, and thus the movement collapsed.

On the very next day the leader who had gone underground, seeing a peaceful atmosphere returned to their homes. In the evening the CPM, gathering their goondas from the neighbouring villages organised a big Jatha, in which the CPM leadership at the regional as well as block and district level participated. They reached Kashtoguraha Gram, where the people had not made any preparations to resist them. The leadership again had to escape, but all the villagers from one corner of the village to the other were cruelly beaten and made to surrender. They were tortured and fined Rs. 500/- to Rs. 600/- each.

When the police left, the CPM leaders gheraoed the house of Shrimanto, one of the three leaders — Shrimanto, Madhu and Bola Ram Chakkerbortty — and threatened to kill him in the morning. But all the three comrades escaped at night at 1 A. M. They tried to contact all Naxal groups, along with the Association of People’s Democratic Rights (APDR) in order to move legally. An APDR team arrived to make inquiries in Nalpa and Kashtogurha Gram. When the CPM got this information, they went to village Nalpa and badly thrashed the interviewers, so that one interviewer’s hand was broken. Later no resistance was shown by the organisation and their central leadership remained mum.

We were told that when the young leadership escaped, some worked as labourers in other areas and some spent their time with their distant relatives. Later, Shrimanto surrendered befor the CPM and Bola Ram Chakkerbotty returned to the village after 8 months in 1994 along with Madhu who used to visit home secretly. The latter, being from a poor peasant family, he could get shelter in the houses of the poor and landless peasants. On the arrival of these two, the house of Bola Ram Chakkerbotty was gheraoed and he was dragged outside and severely beaten. He was forced to parade Kaan Pagarhi (an exerise of pulling once own ears as a punisment) and later was paraded in a procession of the CPM before the entire village of Kashtogurha Gram with a warning — "If you desire to live in the village, leave all politics."

Hearing that the CPM had a programme of looting the village Nalpa, Ashis of Nalpa, along with Nitai and Vibhas of Dhaboni village gathered in a jungle and thought of killing all the CPM goondas one by one, but, they did not have any arms except lathis (wooden sticks). In the evening a CPM leader (goonda) of village Kashtogurha Gram, Har Dhan Saha, nicknamed Harhu Saha, was seen passing through the jungle on his motor cycle. These three attacked Harhu Saha and beat him half dead. But he managed to escape.

At the same time the CPM gangsters gheraoed the house of Ashish in village Nalpa. Harhu Saha reached there and showed his condition. They gathered more men and again started attacking the village Kashtogurha Gram. This was a second attack in a single day. Seeing this , the people of Keshtogurha Gram fled to the jungles. Bhajan Chakkerborty, the father of the family, while returning from the jungle, having kept his pregnant daughter-in-law (wife of Bala Ram Chakrabartty), in the jungle, was caught by the CPM goondas. The old man thought that being a Brahmin and a respectable Purohit of the village, he would be spared. He was caught on the way and beaten severely. Later they dragged him to the club-ghar of the village and tortured him to death. The dead body of Bhajan Chakkerborty was taken to the jungle and hanged to make it look like a case of suicide.

The dead body was taken to Midnapore hospital, but the condition of the dead body was so bad the doctors refused to do a post-mortem and did not give any report. Bala Ram Chakrabartty, along with two comrades were arrested, but were soon bailed out. They went to Midnapore hospital to meet the doctor who was supposed to have done the post-mortem. He told them the actual story, that he had not given any report and even suggested that they file a murder case against the police and CPM leaders. Despite their decision to file a case through Bola Ram’s mother, the party (central organisation body) discouraged them, as the CPM had threatened to kill all the family members. This group then left the COB (central organising bureau) and started organising a central body to meet with the People’s War party, at that juncture some of the comrades became inactive and some even joined the CPM. Comrade Ravi was so furious with the leadership that, even he joined the CPM, became a total drunkard, and a most notorious CPM drunkard of the area. This was all in frustration. In early 1999 Ravi, gave up drinking and joined the PW party.

We have also founed Netai Roy Bhuian, a scheduled caste youth of 24-25 years, at this time and could record his statement as under :

We have already mentioned the name of Netai of Dhaboni and Vibhas along with Ashish of village Nalpa. Netai narrated that, when to the town and met their purohit A.K. acharya, to get guidance from him, how to tackle Badharhi Roy, Harhu Saha and Bansi Saha, the goondas of the CPM. Acharyaji suggested to them that these goondas be annihilate in order to bring peace to the area. But they only managed to hit Harhu Saha, which provoked the CPM to kill Bhajan Chakrabartty. Netai said that, Ashish’s wife, when she reached Nalpa, along with her brother-inlaw, she had a 7-8 month child in her lap. She was severely beaten by the CPM and she had to escape from Nalpa and go to distant relatives in the village of Chandra Kona, about 35 kilometers away. She ran on foot keeping her baby clinging to her breasts. Later, next day, Ashish was dispatched to Sandhipur and the two thought of organising the youth of villages Dhaboni, Nalpa and Kashtogurha Gram. They had selected a spot for further meetings. He left his home, as a Jatha of 2-3 thousand people were coming to his village. He met only a few and came back to the jungle. He came across an old adivasi woman, who told him to inform Vibhas to leave his home, as she had heard people saying that he would be killed by the CPM. But he had already left the village. Netai spent one and half days in hiding and later went home for meals. He took his meals and money for the fare to go to his sister’s house in a village on Chandrakona Road. But he could not reach his sister’s house at Chandrakona Road. He was captured by the railway police, who sent him back to Gorbeta. He was let off and spent his time sleeping under the shade of a tree. He again went toA.K Acharya to seek his guidance. Acharya guided him to leave the area and gave him money and provisions for the travel. He reached Sandhipur where his comrades were living and had got some labour work. He could spend only a few days in the village and fell home sick as he was only 17 –18 years of age. His comrades prevented him but, he came back to his village and started work in the peasantry. But after 15 –20 days, he was captured by the CPM in Kashtogurha Gram. He said that he was talking to a shop keeper, who had informed the CPM leaders.

His tortures at the hands of the CPM, surpassed even medieval cruelty. He was beaten half dead with iron rods, his body was cut with blades, he was burnt with cigarette stubs and urine was forced into his mouth. Later, he was handed over to the police. He was implicated in a fake case and produced before a court. The judge, nay the learned judge, suggested that he accept his crime so that he could be released. Though a fake case, yet he agreed to the proposal of the judge, who later sentenced him to 15 days imprisonment. He also said that his party also misguided him to accept the proposal of the judge. Later he came out and after a few days he found a man carrying his cycle which was snatched by the CPM goondas when he was captured. He stopped the man carrying his cycle and occupied his cycle after giving him a good beating. That man approached the CPM man who had sold him the cycle. He was again beaten by the CPM goondas and handed over to the police. He came out on bail but the case of dacoity against him is still lying in the court, even after 6 years.

These are the methods of the CPM’s class struggle and "revolution." They have been involved in many heinous crimes to curb any opposition in rural Bengal. The horrifying event of the Basanti massacre in Nav Dweep has been written in the history of CPM rule. If however, the people of these villages under discussion, take revenge against the CPM goondas and Gorbeta and annihilate all, nobody would consider it a crime except our media.

In rural Bengal anarchy is progressing by leaps and bounds. Peasants are murdered in cold blood by the goondas, who have their political affiliation with ruling class parties. Earlier the CPM, the ruling party in Bengal, had used these goondas, to capture power in rural Bengal. There have been many articles published in People’s March, from time to time, which reveal the real picture of rural Bengal. Now, to kick out the CPM from the rural scene, the BJP-Trinamul Congress alliance has been adopting the same methods which were previously adopted by the CPM. This alliance (BJP-Trinamul) has used the inner contradictions within the CPM, and is gaining ground day by day. Moreover, the BJP-Trinamul alliance has the privilege of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) that provides armed training to its hired goondas and now these goons have established their hegemony through terror, in this area, across the Shilavati river. In some villages you will not find a single CPM sympathiser. We shall not repeat the Sandhipur incident which has been published in People’s March but there are many more horrifying events that have taken place in this area. We have interviewed many people, rich and poor, who have narrated their own stories.

We met a poor peasant, Shri Vidyanath Pandit (35) of the Layak community, belonging to village Majarhia, Gorbeta block, Midnapore district. He narrated a very interesting story of this village which draws a real picture how the contradictions erupted within the CPM and how the BJP-Trinamul has harvested the fruits of it.

In village Simala the BJP-Trinamul Congress organised a Sammelan (mass meeting). The CPM attacked this Sammelan and the BJP-Trinamul turned tail. The BJP-Trinamul alliance then disrupted the mass meetings of the CPM during the panchayat elections. On July 13th, 1998, when the CPM was holding a mass meeting in Bosto Morh, village Nodhasuli, where the Minister of State for Tourism, Sushant Ghosh, was also present, the BJP-Trinamul alliance attacked their mass meeting and chased away the CPM people alongwith Sushant Ghosh, the minister. In Region No. 3, the BJP-Trinamul gained ground and gained hegemony over this area. Many men of Vishwa Nath Mandal sided with them while the men of the Mukund Patra remained, but were continuously harassed. Looting, killing and rape of the women started.

The CPM tried to reorganise its forces in order to take revenge against the alliance of the BJP-Trinamul combine. The party office of the CPM remained closed for a long time and the Vishwa Nath Mandal took a Jatha and succeeded in reaching the local party office, but Tara Shankar Benerjee ran away. The office was gheraoed by the BJP-Trinamul alliance and the CPM shut themselves in the office. The alliance blocked their exit, even easing themselves and eating, and taking water became impossible. ‘Atisaara’ (dysentery) started among the CPM leadership and the pungent smell bothered them to death in that black hole. The BJP-Trinamul force did not stop here. They took a ladder, and made a hole in the wall to insert a big pipe in order to throw chilly power inside the CPM office. Some how, the police came and got them released.

On the second occasion, the CPM made better preparations to defend their office and push back the attack of the BJP-Trinamul alliance if it occurred. The Jatha under the leadership of Mukund Patra had occupied the CPM office, but Haren Dev was attacked by the police, while Vishwa Nath Mundal did not come out of his house. The BJP-Trinamul, had an organised force recruited by the RSS and well trained with good weapons, but the CPM were lenient ‘revolutionaries,’ rather the disciples of peaceful co-existence and Ahimsa Paramo Dharma. The alliance attacked the CPM fiercely and killed Mukund Patra and his associates. Our interviewer’s elder brother, Faquir Pandit was also killed and all the villagers fled to save their lives. The entire village was set ablaze and loot, murder and mass rape of the women was the order of the day. This was done by the alliance of both the parties who pose to be the saviours of Swadeshi, Hindutva, Bharatiyata and womanhood.

Who were the leaders of the BJP-Trinamul alliance ? The people have given us the names of their main goondas i.e., Swarup Sarkar, Bhola, Utpal, Laltoo, Jhumpa, Vidhan, Somunu alias Shamas-ud-Din, Ashraf etc., who were the notorious goondas of the area and have spread terror in the masses.

Swarup Sarkar was later killed by the armed squad of the CPI (ML) [People’s War] who had a following among the landless and poor peasantry. We don’t repeat the Sandhipur incident. But, we should inform our readers of the notorious anti-social activities of Swarup Sarkar. He was a heavy drinker, and looting, murdering and raping virgins were his pleasures.

He used to collect money for the BJP from the people by force, at gun point. Once Swarup Sarkar was collecting funds for the BJP and asked a middle peasant to pay him Rs. 2000/-. But the middle peasant had no money in hand to pay the BJP such an amount. He requested the leader, Swarup Sarkar to wait for a week. But, Swarup Sarkar took a motor of the peasant worth 10-12 thousand and sold it for Rs. 3500/- in another village.

Swarup Sarkar went to a high school, and demanded Rs. 50,000/- from the teachers working in the Sandhipur high school, for the BJP fund. When they shirked to fulfill such a heavy demand, Swarup Sarkar threatened the 25 teachers asking them to pay Rs. 3000/- each or bear the consequences. He talked of killing everyone who would not pay Rs. 3000/- the next morning. Anyhow, the teachers pleaded and the bargain was settled at a Rs. 2000/- levy on each teacher of the high school at Sandhipur and a levy of Rs. 500/- on the primary school teachers.

Swarup Sarkar went to a village and demanded Rs. 5000/- from Sukumar Sad-Gope’s father for the party fund. Sukumar Sadgope’s father meekly requested that he wait for a week so that he could sell his potato crop in the market and would pay his levy of Rs. 5000/-. Swarup Sarkar found the unmarried young sister of Sukumar Sad-Gope and his mouth watered. He told them that they should not worry, as, he would pay the levy to the party on their behalf, but, he would take the girl for a day. The young girl was dragged towards the fields at the point of a gun and nobody could resist. The chastity of the virgin girl was violated in her own fields and she was raped many a times for 2 nights. When the girl came back home her condition was very bad. When a squad member asked her why she had not resisted, she told her (a lady squad member) that Swarup Sarkar pulled off her clothes threatened that if she would move, he would insert the barrel of the gun in her vagina and shoot her. We do not mention the name of the girl, her father and her village, for the sake of her shame, but, we demand from the so called saviours of Hindutva, whether all this was for the cause of Hindu Sanskriti.

There are many, more pathetic stories related to the women of this area, which we avoid to mention here, but the story of Utter Bila we can’t avoid.

Utter Bila is a village which was captured by the BJP-Trinamul alliance, but the CPM reoccupied it. Then the BJP-Trinamul forces again attacked this village fiercely and captured it alongwith the Kond Giriya and Kirtan Giriya villages. Mass murders and mass rapes were unleashed by the BJP-Trinamul goondas. Three Muslim women were so badly raped, that, they became half dead. After rape the barrels of the guns were inserted in their vaginas and those 3 muslim women could not walk. One of the sufferers, Santana Bibi, when contacted, by a lady squad member, was walking with her legs apart keeping a space of 2-2½ feet. We tried to meet these ladies, but could not, as there was a war, rather Dharma-Yuddha, between the forces of the BJP-Trinamul alliance versus the CPM forces. Another tortured woman told us when we could contact her, that, more than 200 families fled the villages and settled in Blui Tal, but they had no food, no utensils, no beds, no clothing, no roof and the winter was hard. These are the upholders of the Stree Dharma of the RSS and the advocates of the welfare of womanhood, for which the Rana Chandi of Bengal Mamata Benerjee cries hoarse and advocates the right of women to 30% reservation.

Raikha is a Muslim hamlet near Sandhipur. Utpal a staunch RSS goonda belongs to this village. He was notorious and stands equivalent to Swarup Sarkar. Shauqat Ali, the village Imam, narrated with tears, in his old eyes, that Utpal had previously spared his own village, but, there is a dalit widow, cobbler by caste, whose young husband died owing to a snake bite. Once Utpal raped her at the point of a gun and later visited her day and night. The Muslim elders asked Utpal either to marry that dalit woman or stop visiting her. This provoked Utpal who broke the head of one elder and another’s arm was fractured. The son of one of the elders came to resist, but Utpal put his AK-47 gun at his head. All the women rushed towards Utpal and wept, while entreating him to spare the man. They washed his feet with their tears. There was so much terror in Raikha, created by Utpal, that children did not play in the village after dusk.

We were told that the youth of village Raikha searched for the squads of the People’s War, who organised the village youth into a Gram-Raksha Dal. The squad of the People’s War raided the house of Utpal many a times, but he escaped. A similar scene, like that at the Muslim Para’s house was repeated at Utpal’s house, where Utpal’s grand father, parents and women wept bitterly. They washed the feet of the commander of the squad, as, the women had a notion that, the squad members would also behave in the same manner adopted by the RSS in looting, raping and murdering. But the commander of the squad gathered the people of that Para where Utpal’s family members resided and assured all the people, that, they live peacefully, they would not touch anybody but punish the criminals, anti-socials and enemies of the masses. We were told that Utpal’s family left the village for good and Utpal sometimes visited the village clandestinely on his motor cycle after dusk, when there was no scope of a raid; but, other people said that Utpal did never visit Raikha owing to the fear of the People’s War. If the masses are organised, there is no power on earth to scare them.

In this anarchic environment the long desire of the poor masses was fulfilled by the arrival of People’s War. The poor people were ready to join the squads and the organisation while the middle and lower middle peasants put a condition to join the party. They said that they would join if the squad first annihilated all the goonda leaders. They were so terrified that they did not have faith that the squads could kill the goondas, but, the poor and landless peasants gave a warm welcome and let their sons and daughters join the party squads. This is taking place in the fortress of the reactionary BJP-Trinamul alliance. Wherever the squad goes the masses welcome them with warm hospitality. Village committees and Gram Raksha Dals are being organised in many villages. Men and women, old and young attend the mass meetings held at night. Meals are given to the squad, collecting cooked rice from the houses and some times a joint langer is arranged where all the villagers dine together. Cultural programmes are performed in every meeting which continues upto 2 A.M., and when the meeting is adjourned the squad moves to another village. Moreover, the people demand arms for their sons and daughters either for self defence or for killing their enemies. Not only this, they have become conscious of state power. When we ask a child of 6 years the function of the Party or the squads, he would reply simply — "For the power of poor people".

After the incident of Sandhipur, when the BJP-Trinamul goondas took revenge by the annihilation of Swarup Sarkar, the situation abruptly changed. The goondas attacked Asit Sarkar’s house, looted it and killed his relatives in cold blood. The people opposed their action and condemned it. The upper and middle class supporters of theirs, were horrified that, one day the Naxalites would take revenge. They openly talk, that, those goondas should not have done this, as, the innocent people who were killed were not at fault. Some of them have even left their villages and settled in the town.

To save these goondas, the police have come to their rescue. Once, there was a clash between the goondas and the Naxalites, when the squad was in a good cover. It repulsed the attack of the BJP-Trinamul goondas and then the police arrived, but the police could not face the Naxalites and retreated. The goondas insisted upon launching a second attack, but the police prevented them saying if they attacked them, the police would have to deploy more force and trucks in order to carry their (goondas’) dead bodies.

The BJP-Trinamul goonda forces have occupied the villages, which were some time back, the fortresses of the CPM. They have driven the CPM goondas away, and their sympathisers also fled the area. On March 20 last year, the CPM made good preparations and tried to re-occupy some villages in No. 3. Their sympathisers had already fled the area alongwith other people. Some had joined the BJP-Trinamul alliance. Other people had paid the extortion money of 7 to 10 thousand rupees, the elite had paid upto Rs 50 thousand, only to live in this area. When the CPM armed forces started the attack, the BJP-Trinamul allied forces repulsed their attack using bombs and killed 2 CPM men and injured many. On March 23rd two more were killed by the BJP-Trinamul alliance. Then the armed police arrived, who arrested some CPM men and dispersed others, but did not touch any of the allied forces of the BJP-Trinamul combine. Day and night firing went on from both sides without any stop and the bombs used by the BJP-Trinamul alliance were sounding like heavy guns. On 25th March the CPM’s armed forces again attacked the allied forces of the BJP-Trinamul, but they lost 7 men. An old woman told us, that, the 7 dead bodies were removed by the CPM forces. She had also reported that, the police had come on 23rd March and resettled 200 people who had returned from Blui Tal.

On 25th March, the People’s War squad, which was also in the area doing its work regularly, reached a village situated near the Shilabati river. This village has 3 paras (hamlets). An old woman coming from the other para situated at a distance of 1½ kilometer, reported, that, 70 armed men of the allied BJP-Trinamul forces had entered the para on the previous night and they were planning to attack that para which sympathised with the People’s War. The Gram Raksha Dal moved from house to house to sound the people of the coming danger. That para had a good cover and their position was strong strategically. Every one of that para kept a watch and Santeri-Pahera (sentries) were kept at 2 posts. In the evening the report arrived that the enemy had camped in the centre of the para and the leadership was holding a meeting in the office situated in the centre of the para, while their men were dead-drunk. At 9 P.M. the squad moved for the attack. We were informed, that the leader of this gang was also there who was a target of the squad. When the squad reached the spot and took its position, the goonda leader came out side. He was fully armed, having a torch in his hand. He heard a sound and shouted — "who is there?" He flashed his torch light, but was hit on the head by a fist. Being strong, he was able to repulse the attack and ran back. He was fired upon by 2 comrades while he was running. One shot missed, the other hit him on the head and he fell down. It was pitch dark and the noise and cries started in the village para. There was no firing from the enemy side except cries and shouts. On the other hand in No. 3 bomb-shelling was constantly going on and was making the night horrible and more panicky. There was no sound from the enemy side. The noise was made by the people, mostly women and it subsided after a few minutes. The squad kept on waiting for an hour, when there was no sound from the enemy side, it could not understand what was going on, and thus, retreated safely. The squad left for another village and on the morning of the 26th March the report came that, the goonda leader was not killed but only got a scratch on the head, which was enough to scare his followers who left the village in the cover of the night, and the goonda declared next morning that he had left the BJP. The report of in-fights and some clashes between the BJP and Trinamul cadre were also received. But the squad was determined to annihilate him. It was reported that, he would attend the Shiva Ratri fair in village Raskundu. But he did not arrive there on 5th and 6th April.

On 27th March we travelled through some BJP-Trinamul villages, meeting and interviewing the sympathisers of these parties and came to the conclusion that, they had joined these parties only for the time being and as when the balance of forces changes they would turn. Then we crossed Shilabati river by a boat and reached the other side which was a CPM area. We passed through some muslim villages too, alongwith Kharh Kusuma, Dagurparha, Dhan Chhorha (there is a big Ashrama), Garha Mara, Dhanna, Siraima etc., and stayed in a house of a CPM sympathiser in village Kashtogurha Gram, where we could interview Chakkerborty’s family and some other people. We could also pass some Adivasi villages too who were said to be considered as Naxalite pockets.

In Kashtogurha village, we met a man of the BJP-Trinamul alliance at night who was considered the right hand of the notorious goonda, Jhampa, who also belonged to Kashtogurha but was residing with his father-in-law in Jhampa’s village and was very active. Though he was a drunkard, yet he talked to us politely during his interview and provided us good information about the 7 day war between the allied BJP-Trinamul, and the CPM forces — the number of killed and injured CPM men. He had also said that, there have been clashes between the BJP and the Trinamul Congress.

The CPM people had told us that, the cause for the rise of the BJP-Trinamul was due to the inner party groupism and there was no preparation to face the attack of the allied forces of the BJP-Trinamul Congress. They said that they were depending upon the police force, but the police had changed and were assisting the BJP-Trinamul forces. They speculated that it was only the Naxalites who could tackle such fascist forces.

But, when the People’s War squads take any action, then the police arrives at once, all the 3 ruling class parties join together to curb the people’s movement by hook or by crook. The CPM men were saying that the leadership at the higher level was suggesting using the Naxalite forces to defeat the alliance of the BJP-Trinamul Congress in the coming elections. If such a thing happened, they would join the Naxalites of the People’s War. As we had mentioned above, the middle peasantry was attracted towards the People’s War, but, they were simply following the policy of wait and watch at present. The middle class has its own class nature as well as class interests. It would worship the rising Sun and were bound to join, at a certain stage, whenever the balance of forces change.

The PW were also in a fix over the silence of the media. The local Bengali papers had published some minor clashes and a few deaths, while the PW had watched a Dharm Yudha in which bombs were freely used and remained thundering on the earth for many days. (The PW had left the area of clashes on 27th March) Later the CPM authorities deployed a 2000 police force from 3 district centres under the command of 3 IPS officers to put an end of this war. But all the goonda forces left the area and the police could not catch a single one. But, it was harassing the poor people who were considered Naxalites. They had visited the villages of some squad members and harassed the ladies and children. In Gorbeta the third phase is still starting.

The People’s War squads hardly entered this area in December 1998, and since then it is gaining ground. It will have to face many vicissitudes, ups and downs, tribulations and trials. But one thing can be said with confidence, it was not the party of the People’s War, but the ruling classes themselves, who have made the people conscious through their heinous crimes of suppression.

The people under the leadership of the CPI(ML)[People’s War], steeled and tempered in the ordeal of armed class struggle during the period after the setback of the great Naxalbari peasant armed struggle are advancing ahead. Now, the economic crises of the ruling classes at the all India as well as at the international level, is giving birth to a political crises at the all India as well as at the international level, which is conceiving the seeds of New People’s Democratic Revolution in India. As the armed struggles in Andhra Pradesh and Dandakaranya are spreading like a praire fire in the Deccan, similarly, the struggle in Gorbeta area which is spreading all around and crossing the borders of other districts, shall engulf entire Bengal, which will rouse Punjab and other states, demolishing the fortress of the reactionary ruling classes at the Centre. The revolutionary people’s war can only be successful if fought under the leadership of the proletariat and thus all other armed struggles which are being fought by the nationalities in the North East and Kashmir are bound to merge with it to achieve a glorious victory in defeating feudalism, comprador bureaucratic capitalism and imperialism, the enemy of the world people.

— Prof. D. N. Vasishtaha

[From People’s March - 2001, March]