People's Democracy

WEST BENGAL

CPI(M) Leader Killed in Burnpur

Our Special Correspondent

A GROUP of armed miscreants killed Comrade Dilip Sarkar, a secretariat member of the CPI(M)’s Burdwan district committee and former MLA, in Burnpur, near Asansol in Burdwan district on June 9 morning. He was shot by assailants near the Burnpur stadium around 6:45 in the morning. He was taken to a nursing home where he breathed his last. According to eye witnesses, four motorcycle borne miscreants fired on him from close range. He was 64.

Comrade Dilip Sarkar was a popular leader of the working class and was the CITU’s district secretary. He was a leading figure in the steel workers’ trade union. He earned the party membership in 1968. From the very beginning he was associated with the youth and working class movements. In 1969, he was sacked from Burn Standard after he organised the workers there. In 2006, he was elected to the state assembly from Barabani. Not only a skilled and experienced organiser, Comrade Sarkar’s simple lifestyle and gentle approach made him an accepted leader among the masses there. He was deeply involved in social activities, particularly with sports.

In Burnpur, an industrial area and a strong base of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions and CPI(M), consecutive killings and murderous attacks have taken place in the last two years after Trinamul Congress (TMC) came to power and formed its government. While CITU leader Comrade Nirgun Dubey was killed on July 5, 2011, Arpan Mukherjee, a CPI(M) leader and son of veteran party leader Bamapada Mukherjee, was killed on May 10, 2012. Comrade Dilip Sarkar was murdered exactly in the same way the two other comrades were done to death.

In Asansol, gangsters have established a terror regime in the last two years; 28 murders have taken place till date. Activists of the CPI(M) and trade unions are the special targets of attack here. They are fighting a very difficult battle. All these gangs work under the patronisation of the ruling party. The police have either become mute spectators or even collaborate in their anti-social activities. The CPI(M) has alleged that the murder of Comrade Sarkar was designed to create terror in the area and weaken the CPI(M) before the ensuing panchayat elections. The martyred comrade played a courageous role in organising and mobilising the people and filed nominations of the Left Front candidates in the area despite attacks.

This heinous killing has once again exposed the regime presided over by Ms Mamata Banerjee in West Bengal. In Burdwan, two CPI(M) district committee members --- Comrade Pradip Tah and Comrade Kamal Gayen --- were brutally killed at a single attack in February 2012.

CPI(M) state secretary Biman Basu has strongly condemned the murder and demanded immediate arrest of the culprits.

The CPI(M) organised a 12-hour strike in the Asansol subdivision on June 10 as well as statewide protest for two days. There were protest processions throughout the state on June 9.

CITU CONDEMNS

THE MURDER

The Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) expressed its shock and condemned the dastardly murder of Comrade Dilip Sarkar, Burdwan (West Bengal) district secretary of the CITU and a member of the CITU’s all-India Working Committee. He was shot dead by gangsters on June 9 morning. He was an active leader of the steel workers and various other sections of the working class.

While paying homage to the martyred comrade, the CITU demanded exemplary punishment to those who are responsible for the murder.

The CITU conveyed its condolences to Comrade Sarkar’s bereaved family members and comrades.