Losing grip over Lalgarh and steadily retreating from other areas of West Bengal, Maoists have come out with a countermove — death sentences for five CPI(M) leaders, including a minister.
The Communist Party of India (Maoist) politburo member and spokesman Koteshwar Rao, aka Kishenji,
read out the sentence to
HT over the phone on Monday. This is the first time that the Maoists have openly declared their execution plans.
In a recorded audio statement, Kishenji said, "These leaders are masterminding the armed operations of the CPI(M) and the people have given them death sentence. We'll execute the order at any cost."
Kishenji claimed though the CPM had set up a number of camps to house armed cadres in and around Lalgarh, the people would retaliate. "The people would not show mercy to those who keep any link with the CPI(M)."
Besides the Western Region Development Minister Sushanta Ghosh, considered to be a strongman in the Maoist-hit West Midnapore district, the other four are district leaders Deepak Sarkar, Dahareswar Sen and Lalgarh leaders Anuj Pandey and Prashanta Das.
Pandey's house was demolished in full public view on June 15, 2009 by a mob led by the Maoists at Dharampur. The incident — widely televised by the news channels — prompted the state to ask the Centre for paramilitary forces. On September 2, the CPI(M) recaptured Dharampur.
"The Maoists are also targeting many other leaders, policemen and common people," said Zulfikar Hassan, IG, western range. Asked about the security arrangements made for the five leaders, he said, "The security measures are secret and I can't comment on it."
Dahareshwar Sen said, "They are issuing these threats in the name of the common people, but the common people will ensure that they fail."
Kishenji also sought to drum up support for the 48-hour shutdown in six states beginning on September 13, demanding judicial probe into the killing of Maoist leader Cherukuri Rajkumar, aka Azad, in Andhra Pradesh on June 2.