Lalgarh and Beyond: Disaster in the Making

The government’s strategy to deal with the internal security problem has caused legitimate concern in civil society.

For sometime now violence has erupted in the Lalgarh-Jangalmahal area of West Bengal’s West Midnapore district bordering on Jharkhand.

In fact when a fact-finding team, headed by internationally renowned economist Amit Bhaduri, went to Lalgarh on April 12, it brought back harrowing tales of atrocities by the police and harmad vahini (obviously constituting CPM cadres who caused havoc in Nandigram in March and November 2007) against the adivasis-mulvasis of the region (reminiscent of colonial times) alongside massive deprivation of the tribals in the area. These atrocities were committed in the wake of a landmine explosion that occurred while the convoy of the Union Steel Minister and State CM was passing Salboni, 50 kms away from Lalgarh, on November 2, 2008. The atrocities compelled the people of the area to set up a ‘Polishi Santrash Birodhi Janasadharaner Committee’ (People’s Committee Against Police Atrocities) and block the entry of the police and harmad vahini; but the people also underlined that the blockade would be lifted if the police apologise to them for their past excesses.

This bit of history is necessary to be recounted in order to debunk media reports suggesting that Maoists have suddenly set up a base in the region and are indiscriminately killing and hounding out CPM cadres and leaders from the area. No doubt some Maoists have entered the area and killed some people (belonging to the CPM) along with destruction of property and arson in several places (the properties targeted being those of leading CPM activists and members). But while mentioning this the media barely draw attention to the above background that is being widely ignored thus turning the reports as one-sided and liable to be charged with bias.

Meanwhile according to latest reports, the anticipated police operation has already begun. In this the State forces are being assisted by the Central forces. Earlier it was reportedly pointed out that the PM wanted the Lalgarh operation to be a part of the Union Home Minister’s overall strategy to fight Maoism/Naxalism in the tribal belt of Central India. This strategy has not been spelt out but from all available indications it is clear that there is no room for any political thrust in it since it would wholly comprise of military actions involving the security forces which are to include the para-military and even the military. This strategy will be put into operation shortly in Chhattisgarh, Orissa, Jharkhand, Andhra, Bihar as also parts of Madhya Pradesh, Mahrashtra and West Bengal.

The Lalgarh operation is thus a precursor of things to come. The authorities, most of them eyeless bureaucrats, are unable to comprehend the horrendous consequences. As several intellectuals of West Bengal have warned, any bloodbath in Lalgarh (or in the other tribal areas in the aforementioned affected States) would have its inevitable impact all over the tribal region of Central India and could trigger a general tribal uprising comparable to the Santal rebellion of 1856-58.

Only politicians with a clear vision would be able to fully comprehend how much the authorities are playing with fire. And they should know that such a step as military action will not address the root problems breeding Maoist militancy—intense deprivation of the populace in particular. Therefore they must allow the political process to be set in motion so that well-meaning civil society activists can play a mediatory role in peaceful negotiations reflecting democratic dialogue on the basic issues affecting the people at large.

Any other move sparking violence and the resultant bloodletting can only be an invitation to disaster that needs to be avoided at all costs.

June 18 S.C.