Kolkata: Trinamool Congress chief Mamata
Banerjee on Wednesday claimed that armed CPI-M cadres, with the help
of the joint forces, committed mass murder in some villages of
Maoist-hit West Midnapore district and demanded a CBI probe.
"I have confirmed reports that 8-10 innocent persons
of Badarmoni and adjoining villages under Binpur police
station were massacred by armed CPI-M cadres on September 25,
26 and 27 with the help of joint forces in the name of anti-
Maoist operations," Banerjee told reporters here.
She said she has informed Union Finance Minister
Pranab Mukherjee about the issue.
She claimed the death toll might be in the range of 50
to 60 as per statements by villagers while many were missing.
"CPI-M has been capturing areas and has set up 200-220
camps with the help of the joint forces in junglemahal and
district SP Manoj Verma has been assisting them by supplying
them police arms," she alleged and demanded a CBI inquiry.
The Centre, she said, could not remain `silent` to
such incidents. "If such incidents had taken place in Gujarat,
there would have been a hue and cry. Why it is not so in West
Bengal?"
Noting that she had come to know of the `mass murders`
while returning from Darjeeling, the Railways minister said
"Nandigram had witnessed genocide a few years ago and bodies
were thrown into Haldi river."
Urging the media to collect reports from the villagers
which were attacked, Banerjee said, "I have cross checked the
incident from different levels by some agencies."
Asked for comment, the West Midnapore Superintendent
of Police said, "What can I say? You should ask the person who
has made the allegation."
He said that on September 25, a CRPF man and a Maoist
had been killed in an encounter at Badarmoni.
Demanding the withdrawal of the joint forces so that
`the CPI-M could not derive benefit from their presence`,
Banerjee said, "I have expressed my fear to the Prime Minister
about this."
Alleging that the state government was misusing
constitutional machinery in Maoist-hit areas by terrorising
villagers with the help of the joint forces, she said she
feared a `CPI-M onslaught` during Diwali.
She also alleged that the minister for Paschimanchal
affairs was organising supari killers at the directive of the
chief minister.
"I would like to warn the state government not to
play with fire. If necessary, I will camp at jungalmahal even
during the Durga pujas," she said, adding she would send a
delegation of intellectuals there.
Banerjee also urged the Centre for beginning immediate
talks with the Maoists.
"The Centre should take the responsibility to initiate
dialogue with Maoists who should abjure violence till it
begins. Centre can take its own course to deal with them," she
said.
PTI
