People's Democracy

Pradesh Congress Goons Kill CPI (M) Leaders

B Prasant

IN THE run-up to the Panchayat elections in Bengal, CPI(M) leaders and workers are facing increasing attacks from the goons belonging to Pradesh Congress and Trinamul Congress. Since April 3, more than 13 comrades have been killed in these attacks.

In a vicious attack, miscreants in the pay and protection of the Pradesh Congress killed Comrade Akbar Ali, a member of the North Dinajpore district unit of the CPI (M), and injured several others at Chopra on April 30. Subsequently, an unprovoked Police firing on thousands of people of the locality who had turned up to mourn their departed leader, saw three CPI (M) workers, Comrade Khalil-ur Rahman, Comrade Bejoy Roy, and Comrade Arif-ul Islam killed on the spot. Six others were severely injured

The incident occurred when Comrade Akbar Ali was in the process of discussing, in the local CPI (M) office, the planning details of Jyoti Basu's forthcoming election tour in the district. Suddenly, from the Pradesh Congress election meeting assemblage nearby, a large gang of armed goons led by Congress leaders Ashok Roy and by Hamid-ur Rahman (who is also the local MLA), burst inside the CPI(M) office, and leapt on the CPI(M) leaders and workers with sharp and blunt weapons. In an instance of astounding cruelty, they then proceeded to bludgeon Comrade Akbar Ali to death, and injured several Party workers.

The murderers then ran first inside the local office of the Pradesh Congress and, as the people of the locality and of the surrounding area as far as Gailsal, started to rush in on getting to know of the attack on Comrade Akbar Ali, they chose to flee to the Police station close by. An unfortunate incident then took place when an officer of the Police station reportedly allowed the Congress leaders to take away his firearm and shoot at the mass of the people in front of the Thana. Even as the people dispersed in panic, the same Police officer came out and ordered his men to shoot at the fleeing men, women, and children.

In a grisly aftermath, three CPI(M) workers lay dead, while seven more received bullet injuries and had to be removed to hospital in a serious condition. The huge popular rage that was about to explode was contained by the district leadership of the CPI(M) who had rushed to the spot and was able to urge caution on the infuriated people of the locality.

Anil Biswas, secretary of the Bengal unit of the CPI(M) condemned the heinous killing and said that a desperate and cowardly opposition appeared bent on unleashing a campaign of mayhem on the CPI(M) and the Left Front. Biswas exhorted upon the CPI(M) workers never to run out of patience even in the face of unprovoked attacks. He also urged upon the Left Front government to arrest the culprits as early as possible. A statewide programme of marches and rallies were organised on May 1 to condemn the murder of Comrade Akbar Ali, and the killing of three CPI (M) workers in Police firing.

IN MURSHIDABAD

IN A premeditated attack deep into the night of May 5, history-sheeters enjoying the patronage of the Pradesh Congress, hacked to death CPI(M) worker, Comrade Ghulam Mondol at the Sahadier village at Domkal in Murshidabad.  The previous evening, the Pradesh Congress goons had issued a dire warning to Comrade Ghulam to quit CPI(M), or else.

The villagers were angry not merely with the Pradesh Congress, but also with the local Police unit which had earlier virtually encouraged the goons to run riot by failing to register and suitably follow up a case when a cache of arms was found in the residence of a Pradesh Congress leader of the area.  The villagers do not rule out a connivance of a section of the Police with the Pradesh Congress chiefs of Domkal.