GODAMOULI (PASCHIM MEDINIPUR DISTRICT): Sitting in the courtyard of her thatched hut at Godamouli village on Tuesday, 85-year-old Bharati Mandi stares blankly at the rain pounding outside and continues mumbling “he had not even eaten when they took him away,” “when will he return?,” “how will we live without him?”

Her son, Losho Mandi, suspected of having Maoist links was arrested by the West Bengal police on Monday following a heavy exchange of fire between the joint security forces and the Maoists in the village which is located near the Sijua forest in the Lalgarh region.

Three others were arrested with Losho and remanded to 14-day judicial custody on Tuesday.

The village wears a haunted look. One enters it after crossing several makeshift barricades made up of felled trees put up by the Maoists during the last few days. Only a few women, children and elderly people are seen here as most men fled the village fearing both Maoist atrocities and arrest by the police. Those left behind, were found hiding in their homes — too terrorised to come out or even speak.

Unable to stop her tears while recalling how she was tied up, beaten and forcibly paraded through the village by the police, Sukalmani Murmu asks, “If the police came to restore peace, why did they have to beat up and humiliate innocent villagers and ransack our homes?”

The villagers do not side with Maoists either.

“The Maoists used to threaten us when we refused to support or help them. They set up a temporary camp at the village primary school three days ago. They even demanded food from us and threatened us if we refused,” said Sabitri Mahato.

Leaning on a wooden post with a vacant look on her face is Sukhi Hansda, whose husband Madan Hansda was arrested. Ms. Sukhi said, “We belong to no party. Then why must my husband suffer this way? I have five children to look after…”

Ms. Sukhi has not cooked any food, hoping to prepare a meal once her husband returns — ignorant of the fact that he has been sent to custody.

“Can you please tell me when he will be back? Will the police beat him up? He has not done anything,” she puts across a barrage of questions with a helpless look on her face.

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