The Hindu : National : Mahato threatens to launch a “greater movement”

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Mahato threatens to launch a “greater movement”

Raktima Bose

KOLKATA: Threatening to launch a “greater movement” within a couple of days unless the West Bengal government withdraws the joint security forces from Lalgarh, Police Santrash Birodhi Janasadharaner Committee (PSBJC) convener Chhatradhar Mahato has warned it against “any more arrests of innocent people in the name of a Maoist flush-out.”

Speaking to The Hindu over telephone from his hideout in the Lalgarh area, he said: “The government is bent on quashing our movement. Even the Home Secretary acknowledged that it was a ‘just movement’ on his visit to Lalgarh last Sunday… It has decided to term any protest in the Jangalmahal [forest area], a Maoist movement to hide its own failures. We will launch a greater movement within a couple of days if the police atrocities continue.”

Apparently emboldened by the partial success of the bandh called by the PSBJC in the Maoist-hit districts of Paschim Medinipur, Purulia and Bankura on Wednesday, he asserted that common people were supporting the movement in spite of “police atrocities.” Mr. Mahato accused the police of disrupting farming in the region.

“They are indiscriminately arresting people, ransacking their houses and fields. The farmers cannot till their land out of fear, even after the arrival of the monsoon,” he said.

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