'Op Lalgarh' was waiting to happen
17 Jun 2009, 0542 hrs IST, Ajanta Chakraborty, TNN
KOLKATA: Operation Lalgarh, as the Maoists want it to be known, was staring the government in the face, but it chose to wait and watch. Maoists
went on a bloody rampage, bodies piled up, CPM leaders were massacred in their homes, and even Kolkata was held hostage for a day by armed Maoist-backed tribals. The government did nothing — not even ban the insurgent outfit in Bengal.
Bouyed by the success, the Maoists plan to replicate Operation Lalgarh in neighbouring Jharkhand, say intelligence findings communicated to the state home department. Now, with violence spiralling out of control, central forces are being rushed in. Five companies of CRPF, ie about 600 troops, will be on the ground in Lalgarh Wednesday morning to help contain the bloodshed.
Even as home secretary Ardhendu Sen insisted the administration ''took action as and when the situation demanded'', former police officers familiar with the area wondered how things slid to this pass. ''How? Everything was happening right there and happening for a long time. Let's face it, the administration preferred not to take timely action,'' said director-general of police Amiya Samanta wondered:
Said former IG Asim Chatterjee, ''Everything was taking place openly over a long period of time.'' According to the intelligence report, Operation Lalgarh went through five stages - like any other Maoist-backed uprising. The first stage was a survey, where the Naxalites would conduct a thorough study of the area, taking months before moving to the next stage. At this juncture, they would identify with the plight of the people. Subsequently, they would take locals' help in launching guerrilla warfare against the establishment. After such repeated attacks, they would step on to the climactic "liberation" phase — declaring the chosen zone as "muktanchal." But events took a drastic turn after the November 2 landmine explosion targeting chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee's convoy.
The attack was followed by a flurry arrests, including three teenage students Aben Murmu, Gautam Patra and Buddhadeb Patra, who were charged with waging war against the state, conspiracy, attempt to murder, using weapons and obstructing justice. More arrests followed till the night of November 6. Tribals started alleging police torture. Finally, a huge mob gheraoed Lalgarh police station.
What began as rumblings of protest eventually ended up in a mass uprising, with roads being dug up and tree cut down to obstruct entry of police vehicles. The People's Committee against Police Atrocities (PCPA) was formed. Police were boycotted. They could not even buy provisions from villages. And that was unique strategic point.
The Maoist upsurge (with PCPA in the forefront) spread like wildfire in a matter of months (November to June). Police were barred from even election duty. The administration was brought to its knees and the government agreed to a compromise with PCPA that policemen would not enter villages. Another victory for the Maoists. The guerrillas terror hung like a cloud over election as well. The story was retold in a meeting organized by Maoists on June 7. Operation Lalgarh became the high point of discussions among the organization's senior leaders. That's when they decided that replicating the movement elsewhere in the country, starting with Jharkhand, would be a good idea.
According to officials at Writers' Buildings, it made good sense to work out the strategy in Jharkhand where a near-liberated zone already exists - especially in areas like Latehar and Palamau districts. In fact, this part of the country, covering Orissa, Jharkhand and West Bengal, would soon emerge as the circuit for Maoists who are as active in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh.
KOLKATA: Operation Lalgarh, as the Maoists want it to be known, was staring the government in the face, but it chose to wait and watch. Maoists
went on a bloody rampage, bodies piled up, CPM leaders were massacred in their homes, and even Kolkata was held hostage for a day by armed Maoist-backed tribals. The government did nothing — not even ban the insurgent outfit in Bengal.
Bouyed by the success, the Maoists plan to replicate Operation Lalgarh in neighbouring Jharkhand, say intelligence findings communicated to the state home department. Now, with violence spiralling out of control, central forces are being rushed in. Five companies of CRPF, ie about 600 troops, will be on the ground in Lalgarh Wednesday morning to help contain the bloodshed.
Even as home secretary Ardhendu Sen insisted the administration ''took action as and when the situation demanded'', former police officers familiar with the area wondered how things slid to this pass. ''How? Everything was happening right there and happening for a long time. Let's face it, the administration preferred not to take timely action,'' said director-general of police Amiya Samanta wondered:
Said former IG Asim Chatterjee, ''Everything was taking place openly over a long period of time.'' According to the intelligence report, Operation Lalgarh went through five stages - like any other Maoist-backed uprising. The first stage was a survey, where the Naxalites would conduct a thorough study of the area, taking months before moving to the next stage. At this juncture, they would identify with the plight of the people. Subsequently, they would take locals' help in launching guerrilla warfare against the establishment. After such repeated attacks, they would step on to the climactic "liberation" phase — declaring the chosen zone as "muktanchal." But events took a drastic turn after the November 2 landmine explosion targeting chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee's convoy.
The attack was followed by a flurry arrests, including three teenage students Aben Murmu, Gautam Patra and Buddhadeb Patra, who were charged with waging war against the state, conspiracy, attempt to murder, using weapons and obstructing justice. More arrests followed till the night of November 6. Tribals started alleging police torture. Finally, a huge mob gheraoed Lalgarh police station.
What began as rumblings of protest eventually ended up in a mass uprising, with roads being dug up and tree cut down to obstruct entry of police vehicles. The People's Committee against Police Atrocities (PCPA) was formed. Police were boycotted. They could not even buy provisions from villages. And that was unique strategic point.
The Maoist upsurge (with PCPA in the forefront) spread like wildfire in a matter of months (November to June). Police were barred from even election duty. The administration was brought to its knees and the government agreed to a compromise with PCPA that policemen would not enter villages. Another victory for the Maoists. The guerrillas terror hung like a cloud over election as well. The story was retold in a meeting organized by Maoists on June 7. Operation Lalgarh became the high point of discussions among the organization's senior leaders. That's when they decided that replicating the movement elsewhere in the country, starting with Jharkhand, would be a good idea.
According to officials at Writers' Buildings, it made good sense to work out the strategy in Jharkhand where a near-liberated zone already exists - especially in areas like Latehar and Palamau districts. In fact, this part of the country, covering Orissa, Jharkhand and West Bengal, would soon emerge as the circuit for Maoists who are as active in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh.
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