Lalgarh is a Gram Panchayat within the Binpur block in West Midnapur district. There are nine GPs in the same block. Binpur Assembly constituency is composed of the GPs of Binpur I and II.
The Maoists have been active in the bordering areas of Purulia, Bankura and West Midnapur districts since 2001.
Having tasted blood in Nandigram, several attempts were made by the Trinamool Congress and the Maoists to create similar situations elsewhere in West Bengal. On 2nd November 2008, an attempt was made by the Maoists to assassinate the West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya, when he was returning from Shalboni in West Midnapur along with the Union Steel Minister after laying the foundation stone of a steel plant. The landmine exploded by the Maoists missed the Chief Minister’s convoy narrowly. The police launched operations to arrest the culprits and some suspects were arrested. In the process, however, the police indulged in some unjustifiable repressive measures in the Chotopelia village in Lalgarh, especially against some tribal women, one of whose eye was severely damaged. 11women lodged formal complaints about police torture.
This angered the local tribals who launched protests against the police led by the Bharat Jakat Majhi Marwa (BJMM), a body of adivasi community leaders. They demanded treatment and compensation for the injured tribal women, action against the guilty police officials and release of the arrested suspects. On14th November the BJMM leadership reached an agreement with the local authorities. The administration accepted most the demands and provided treatment and compensation for the injured women, released eight of the accused including three school going boys who were arrested and the SP and the Inspector in Charge of Lalgarh police station were transferred.
However, a Committee named Police Santrash Birodhi Janasadharner Committee (PSBJC) was formed under the leadership of Chatradhar Mahato. It was backed by the Maoists. It accused the BJMM leadership of selling out. The PSJBC blockaded the entire Lalgarh area by digging up roads and felling trees, similar to Nandigram, and made the area out of bounds for the police and the administration. They demanded a public apology by the District Superintendent of Police of West Midnapur and other policemen by holding their ears and crawling with their nose to the ground. The administration tried to open dialogue with them but the PSBJC continued with the blockade insisting upon the public apology by the police officials. That the PSBJC was not interested in resolving the issue in a peaceful and democratic manner became clear with the continuing blockade.
It is revealed in The Economist, June 27-July 3 issue under the caption of ‘India’s Naxalite: a rag-tag rebellion’ the name of Chatradhar Mahato and his activities covering some 2000 villages with a joint force of PSBJC and ‘Maoist’ guerrillas.
The local tribal people were not in favour of the undemocratic tactics adopted by the Maoist backed PSBJC. The Bharat Jakat Majhi Marwa organized a rally to protest Maoist violence on 9th December in the Bhulabheda area of Belpahari, where more than 10,000 adivasis had gathered. Sudhir Mandal, the adivasi leader who organized the rally, was shot dead by the Maoists less than 48 hours later. The PSBJC formed a parallel administration and its Maoist allies prevented the entry of the police and administration in the villages of Belpahari, Binpur, Lalgarh, Jamboni, Shalboni and Goaltore.
It is a known fact that since 2001, ‘Maoists’ started to build their contacts in West Midnapur, Bankura, and Purulia districts and in certain areas, waged concerted attacks against the Left forces targeting the CPI(M) as the main enemy. The following is the latest list of persons almost all CPI (M) leaders, members and supporters butchered by Maoists.
No. Name of the victim, Address of the victim, Date of murder
1 Shibaram Satpathi, Sarenga, Bankura, 10-04-01
2 Sudhir Singh Sardar, Banspahari, Medinipur (W), 28-11-01
3 Anil Mahato, Shalboni, Medinipur (W), 04-02-02
4 Rampada Majhi, Ranibandh, Bankura, 11-02-02
5 Puntibala Mahato, Shalboni, Medinipur (W), 31-05-02
6 Icchhamati Mahato, Shalboni, Medinipur (W), 31-05-02
7 Priyanka Mahato (4yrs), Shalboni, Medinipur (W), 31-05-02
8 Ajit Ghosh, Goaltore, Medinipur (W), 09-07-02
9 Golap Mallik, Garbeta, Medinipur (W), 24-04-03
10 Baridbaran Mondal, Banspahari, Medinipur (W) 21-10-03
11 Asit Santra, Goaltore, Medinipur (W), 02-03-04
12 Mahendra Mahato, Bandowan, Purulia, 09-07-05
13 Raghunath Murumu, Barikul, Bankura, 09-07-05
14 Bablu Mudi, Barikul, Bankura, 09-07-05
15 Rabindranath Kar, Bandowan, Bankura, 30-12-05
16 Anandamayi Kar, Bandowan, Bankura, 30-12-05
17 Kartik Singh, Lalgarh, Medinipur (W), 04-03-06
18 Gatilal Tudu, Barikul, Bankura, 04-03-06
19 Gumai Murmu, Belpahari, Medinipur (W), 08-03-06
20 Jaladhar Mahato, Belpahari, Medinipur (W), 08-03-06
21 Rabi Das, Belpahari, Medinipur (W), 14-06-06
22 Snehashis Das, Lalgarh, Medinipur (W), 26-05-06
23 Anil Mahato, Shilda, Medinipur (W), 19-09-06
24 Dinesh Baske, Shilda, Medinipur (W), 19-09-09
25 Pailaram Tudu, Banspahari, Medinipur (W), 09-01-07
26 Rampada Singh, Belpahari, Medinipur (W), 30-03-07
27 Parikshit Singh, Belpahari, Medinipur (W), 30-03-07
28 Manik Mahato, Lalgarh, Medinipur (W), 27-05-07
29 Rohit Roy, Lalgarh, Medinipur (W), 10-07-07
30 Bhagirath Karmakar, Barabazar, Purulia, 01-11-07
31 Sufal Mandi, Purulia, Purulia, 20-11-07
32 Govind Singh, Banspahari, Medinipur (W), 06-12-07
33 Pahalan Kumar, Balarampur, Purulia, 01-01-08
34 Mangal Mahato, Banspahari, Medinipur (W), 15-02-08
35 Karam Chand Singh, Belpahari, 22-02-08
36 Subhash Mahato, Belpahari, Medinipur (W), 29-02-08
37 Budhadeb Pathak, Lalgarh, Medinipur (W), 09-03-08
38 Mukul Tiwari, Shalboni, Medinipur (W), 13-04-08
39 Jugol Murmu, Shalboni, Medinipur (W), 13-04-08
40 Nabakumar Murmu, Shalboni, Medinipur (W), 13-04-08
41 Kshetrapal Majhi, Arsha, Purulia, 19-04-08
42 Sridam Das, Khoirashole, Birbhum, 22-04-08
43 Ganapati Bhadra, Bandowan, Purulia, 04-05-08
44 Debraj Hembram, Balarampur, Purulia, 05-05-08
45 Biswanath Mandi, Goaltore, Medinipur (W), 15-06-08
46 Niranjan Mondal, Nandigram, Medinipur (E), 06-08-08
47 Dulal Garu Das, Garupara, Medinipur (E), 07-08-08
48 Indrajit Muda, Banspahari, Midnapur (W), 31-10-08
49 Nandalal Pal, Lalgarh, Midnapur (W), 01-02-09
50 Haradhan Majhi, Balarampur, Purulia, 03-02-09
51 Biswanath Digar, Ranibandh, Bankura, 08-02-09
52 Sujit Ponda, Lalgarh, Midnapur (W), 13-02-09
53 Saiyad Ali Bhuiyan, Jaipur,Bankura, 11-03-09
54 Durga Deshwal, Bhulabheda, Midnapur (W), 18-03-09
55 Santosh Mahato, Bhulabheda, Midnapur (W), 18-03-09
56 Kanai Kumar, Arsha, Purulia, 28-03-09
57 Ashim Mondal, Bahulabheda, Midnapur (W), 10-04-09
58 Hambir Mandi, Shalboni, Midnapur (W), 21-04-09
59 Shakti Sen, Shalboni, Midnapur (W), 21-04-09
60 Gopinath Murmu, Lalgarh, Midnapur (W), 22-04-09
61 Baikunth Mahato, Supurdihgram, Purulia, 23-04-09
62 Bibhuti Singh Sardar, SD Gram, Purulia , 23-04-09
63 Prasad Banerjee, Jamboni, Midnapur (W), 30-04-09
64 Sougata Karmakar, Jamboni, Midnapur (W), 30-04-09
65 Sanjay Das, Jamboni, Midnapur (W), 30-04-09
66 Manu Singh, Bandowan, Purulia, 15-05-09
67 Dinesh Mahato, Balarmpur, Purulia, 23-05-09
68 Bhondulal Munda, Jhalda, Purulia,, 25-05-09
69 Mamoni Kishku, Binpur, Midnapur (W), 06-06-09
70 Salku Soren, Lalgarh, Midnapur (W), 11-06-09
71 Shankar Tudu, Belpahari, Midnapur (W), 13-06-09
72 Asit Samanta, Lalgarh, Midnapur (W), 13-06-09
73 Naru Samanta, Lalgarh, Midnapur (W), 13-06-09
74 Prabir Mahato, Lalgarh, Midnapur (W), 13-06-09
75 Keshab Manna, Shalboni, Midnapur (W), 14-06-09
76 Dhiraj Manna, Shalboni, Midnapur (W), 14-06-09
77 Sanjay Mahato, Shalboni, Midnapur (W), 14-06-09
78 Debabrata Soren, Shalboni, Midnapur (W), 14-06-09
79 Mohan Singh, Shalboni, Midnapur (W), 14-06-09
80 Sunil Das, Shalboni, Midnapur (W), 16-06-09
81 Tapan Das, Shalboni, Midnapur (W), 16-06-09
82 Sanjay Pratihar, Lalgarh, Midnapur (W), 16-06-09
83 Niladri Mahato, Lodashuli, Midnapur (W), 17-06-09
84 Anil Mahato, Lodashuli, Midnapur (W), 17-06-09
85 Abhijit Mahato, Lodashuli, Midnapur (W), 17-06-09
86 Badal Chandra Ahir, Goaltore, Midnapur (W), 18-06-09
87 Sisir Mahato, Lalgarh, Midnapur (W), 18-06-09
88 Dubraj Soren, Goaltore, Midnapur (W), 18-06-09
89 Dasarath Soren, Goaltore, Midnapur (W), 18-06-09
90 Chaitnya Soren, Goaltore, Midnapur (W), 18-06-09
91 Budheswar Mahato, Lalgarh, Midnapur (W), 21-06-09
92 Pranesh Ghosh, Lalgarh, Midnapur (W), 21-06-09
93 Naba Kumar Murmu, Lalgarh, Midnapur (W), 26-06-09
94 Kishore Tiwari, Lalgarh, Midnapur (W), 26-06-09
95 Jugol Murmu, Lalgarh, Midnapur (W), 26-06-09
96 Moloy Mahato, Lalgarh, Midnapur (W), 05-07-09
97 Motilal Mahato, Lalgarh, Midnapur (W), 05-07-09
98 Barendranath Mahato, Lalgarh, Medinipur (W 10-07-09
99 Gurucharan Mahato, Lalgarh, West Dinajpur, 11-07-09
100 Swapan Deb Singh, Shalboni, Midnapur (W), 14-07-09
101 Tarani Singh, Shalboni, Midnapur (W), 14-07-09
102 Gangadhar Mahato, Barabazar, Purulia, 15-07-09
103 Jaladhar Mahato, Jhargam, Purulia, 18-07-09
104 Ashok Ghosh, Goaltore, Midnapur (W), 18-07-09
105 Fagu Baske, Belpahari, Midnapur (W), 22-07-09
106 Sagar Masant, Goaltore, Midnapur (W), 30-07-09
107 Ashok Mahato, Lalgarh, Midnapur (W), 31-07-09
108 Brahmodeo Singh, Lalgarh, Midnapur (W), 31-07-09
109 Motilal Mahato, Lalgarh, Midnapur (W), 31-07-09
110 Moloy Mahato, Lalgarh, Midnapur (W), 31-07-09
111 Nirmal Mahato, Bhulabheda, Midnapur (W), 02-08-09
112 Gurucharan Tudu, Lalgarh, Midnapur (W), 03-08-09
113 Shankar D. Adhikari, Lalgarh, Midnapur (W), 05-08-09
114 Gunadhar Singh, Bhulabheda, Midnapur (W), 05-08-09
115 Shaktipada Murmu, Lalgarh, Midnapur (W), 06-08-09
116 Ashim Soren, Lalgarh, Midnapur (W), 06-08-09
117 Budhu Hansda, Lalgarh, Midnapur (W), 06-08-09
118 Ramkrishna Duley, Sarenga, Bankura, 15-08-09
119 Mangal Soren, Binpur, Midnapur (W), 29-08-09
120 Laxmikanta Kumar, Sindurpur, Purulia, 29-08-09
121 Bharat Hembram, Balarampur, Purulia, 30-08-09
122 Sukhdeo Mahato, Bhramarmara, Midnapur(W), 31-08-09
123 Debi Prasad Hansda, Balarampur, Purulia, 31-08-09
124 Apu Singh, Lalgarh, Midnapur (W), 06-09-09
125 Rajib Singh, Lalgarh, Midnapur (W), 06-09-09
126 Satish Singh Sardar, Lalgarh, Midnapur (W), 06-09-09
127 Sasanka Sekhar Roy, Lalgarh, Midnapur (W), 06-09-09
128 Shyam Chalak, Lalgarh, Midnapur (W), 07-09-09
129 Ramdas Murmu, Sarenga, Bankura, 08-09-09
130 Baneswar Murmu, Sarenga, Bankura, 08-09-09
131 Krishna Kundu, Sarenga, Bankura, 10-09-09
132 Seikh Nazrul, Lalgarh, Midnapur (W), 13-09-09
133 Kartick Mahato, Lalgarh, Midnapur (W), 13-09-0
134 Sambhu Mahato, Lalgarh, Midnapur (W), 13-09-09
135 Ajoy Patra, Shalboni, Medinipur (W), 16-09-09
136 Manik Mandi, Lalgarh, Medinipur (W), 20-09-09
137 Budheswar Mandi, Lalgarh, Medinipur (W), 20-09-09
138 Bagan Mandi, Lalgarh, Medinipur (W), 20-09-09
139 Nimai Bisui, Lalgarh, Medinipur (W), 24-09-09
140 Samir Singha Mahapatra, Lalgarh, Medinipur (W), 24-09-09
141 Radhanath Mahato, Lalgarh, Medinipur (W), 30-09-09
142 Anadi Mahato, Lalgarh, Medinipur (W), 30-09-09
143 Bhakti Mahato, Lalgarh, Medinipur (W), 30-09-09
144 Barun Pratihar, Lalgarh, Medinipur (W), 01-10-09
145 Amalendu Patra, Lalgarh, Medinipur (W), 02-09-09
146 Panchanan Tudu, Lalgarh, Medinipur (W), 02-09-09
Apart from this, they have killed 23 police personnel, 1 doctor, 1 nurse and 4 government employees on duty.
Just before the 15th Lok Sabha elections were announced, the TMC Supremo Mamata Banerjee herself went to express her solidarity with the pro-Maoist committee (Peoples Committee against Police Atrocities) formed in the area under the leadership of a former Trinamool Congress leader Chatradhar Mahato. She shared the same platform to address the people in the presence of the leadership of the PCAPA. No other political party was allowed to visit the area, which had been blockaded by the committee. However, while Left party leaders were being targeted and sought to be killed, she along with other TMC leaders could go there without any security!
Today when she disclaims any contact with these groups does it have any credibility? It is also now clear as daylight that the TMC is playing the main role in creating chaos and disorder along with the other right-wing political parties as well as the left extremist political outfits. This fact has been corroborated by one of the topmost leader of the CPI (Maoist), Koteswara Rao (Kishenji), through a TV interview. He confirmed that they helped the TMC to drive out the CPI (M) from Nandigram and adjacent areas. In return, he wanted the TMC leader who was now a Union Minister to come forward and help them to do same in Lalgarh. These details are also brought out in this pamphlet.
It is clear that the blockaded area of Lalgarh was being used by the Maoists to launch murderous attacks, especially targeting CPI (M) activists and supporters. The objective of the blockade was also to shield the Maoists, who were behind the assassination attempt on the Chief Minister. This became clear when Maoist cadre Sasadhar Mahato (Bikash), the prime suspect behind the assassination attempt, appeared before the media within the “liberated zone” of Lalgarh on 16th June with an AK 47 slung on his shoulders. Bikash said on NDTV: “On 2nd November, our plan was to execute Buddhadeb. If people want Buddhadeb hanged, who will hang him? It will be us of the People's Liberation Guerrilla Army.” He was making these statements with the CPI (M) Local Committee Office in Dharampur burning in the backdrop and the corpse of CPI (M) activist Salku Soren, who was killed few days back by the Maoists, lying beside it without cremation for three days. It was in the backdrop of this murderous spree by the Maoists, that the State Government was forced to launch a combined operation of the state police and the central security forces on 18th June 2009. The objective was to combat the Maoists and restore normalcy in the area.
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