KRISHNAGAR/KOLKATA: For the second time within a month, suspected Maoists struck at Krishnagar in Nadia, early on Saturday. This time round, a CPM branch office at Poragachha in the Kotwali police station area was razed to the ground.
The Maoists torched furniture and documents at the office before leaving. They also left behind some posters and leaflets. The party office — a corrugated sheet and bamboo structure — was completely destroyed.
The Maoists torched furniture and documents at the office before leaving. They also left behind some posters and leaflets. The party office — a corrugated sheet and bamboo structure — was completely destroyed.
On August 8, two rifles were snatched from policemen in Krishnagar by alleged Maoists. Soon after, posters — exhorting people to take part in the people's struggles in Nandigram and Singur — were seized from the area.
Within days, two more rifles were snatched from neighbouring Murshidabad. Since then, police have launched a massive manhunt in that district as well as in Nadia. Villagers had been picked up and questioned at random. CPM workers though were granted some kind of immunity by the men in uniform during these operations.
Saturday's attack on the party office seems to be the fallout of that as Maoists seem to be holding the ruling party responsible for the harassment of innocent villagers. Incidentally, police have admitted that Saturday's strike could be due to the combing operations. "We have launched search operations after the rifle snatchings. It seems the Maoists are on the run and are resorting to such attacks so that their supporters do not turn against them," said a senior officer.
Local CPM leaders claimed that Trinamul Congress is hand in glove with the Maoists and masterminded the strike.
Trinamul leaders though rubbished the charges. "We do our politics in full public view and do not resort to such attacks. If police are influenced by such baseless allegations and start harassing our workers, we shall have to resort to an agitation," a leader warned.
Within days, two more rifles were snatched from neighbouring Murshidabad. Since then, police have launched a massive manhunt in that district as well as in Nadia. Villagers had been picked up and questioned at random. CPM workers though were granted some kind of immunity by the men in uniform during these operations.
Saturday's attack on the party office seems to be the fallout of that as Maoists seem to be holding the ruling party responsible for the harassment of innocent villagers. Incidentally, police have admitted that Saturday's strike could be due to the combing operations. "We have launched search operations after the rifle snatchings. It seems the Maoists are on the run and are resorting to such attacks so that their supporters do not turn against them," said a senior officer.
Local CPM leaders claimed that Trinamul Congress is hand in glove with the Maoists and masterminded the strike.
Trinamul leaders though rubbished the charges. "We do our politics in full public view and do not resort to such attacks. If police are influenced by such baseless allegations and start harassing our workers, we shall have to resort to an agitation," a leader warned.
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