Lalgarh simmers, tribals lay siege after 3 deaths

Kolkata: A day after three tribals were killed in the exchange of gunfire with CPM cadres, the locals in the Lalgarh-Jhargram belt on Tuesday laid siege to the area to begin an indefinite blockade and vowed to spread the agitation in other districts as well.

Fierce clashes had broken out on Monday between the tribals and the CPM cadres, who were taking out a funeral procession of their slain local leader, who was allegedly killed a day earlier by suspected Maoists said to have close links with the tribals in the area. No arrests have been made so far.

Meanwhile, Santras Birodhi Janaganer Committee (anti-police atrocity committee) has called for a 48-hour bandh beginning Wednesday in three districts of West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia.

The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Congress and SUCI have also given a 12-hour bandh call in the three districts. Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee is likely to visit Lalgarh today.

The clash on Monday took place at Dharampur in the Khasjangal area, when CPM cadres were taking out a procession with the body of their slain leader Nandalal Pal, who was shot dead on Sunday. Both the groups exchanged fierce gunfire and fought with bows and arrows. Three private vehicles were also torched.

“Tribals blocked several areas on Tuesday morning in and around Lalgarh area,” West Bengal Inspector General (Law and Order) Raj Kanojia said.

The Lalgarh-Jhargram area was cut off from the rest of Bengal by the blockade by the tribals, who placed big tree trunks at Ramgarh, Pirakata, Kantapahari and Jhitka areas. Blockades have also been put up at various points in Lalgarh-Midnapore, Lalgarh-Salboni and Lalgarh-Goaltore roads.

Tribals groups armed with traditional weapons, including bows and arrows, manned various entry and exit points in the area. Roads were also dug up in some places. Telephone lines were cut off at some places, affecting police stations and administrative buildings.

The agitating tribal group held a meeting at Ramgarh today. Sidhu Soren, committee’s general secretary, said, “The blockade will continue indefinitely. We will also spread the agitation to other tribal-dominated areas of West Midnapore, Purulia and Bankura. Our tribal brothers were mercilessly killed by CPM goons yesterday. We will not allow the police or anyone from the administration to enter our area.”

The district administration and police also held a meeting at Midnapore town, but were tight-lipped over the outcome. “We discussed the situation in detail and a possible way of controlling any more violence in the area,: said Kuldip Singh, IG Western Range, who was present in the meeting.

Bangladeshi Aliens deported, but no decision on divided family

New Delhi, Jan 14 At least 82 illegal Bangladeshi migrants were deported by authorities even as there was no decision on a Bangladeshi woman who faces a cruel separation from her Indian husband and elder son.

According to the highly placed sources in the Foreigners’ Regional Registration Office (FRRO), which keeps an eye over illegal immigrants, 82 such aliens from Bangladesh were put on the Brahamputra Express to Malda in West Bengal Tuesday 8.30 p.m. before being pushed across the border.

However, the train did not carry Bangladeshi national Salma and her three-year-old son Bismillah, who was born in India but according to the Citizenship Amendment Act 2003 is not an Indian citizen, who now faces separation from her Indian husband Mohammad Khalid and their elder son Yasin.

Yasin, 5, is an Indian citizen. According to the Citizenship Amendment Act 2003 those born in India on or after 2003 are recognised Indian citizens only if one of the parents is an Indian citizen and the other parent should not be an “illegal migrant”.

“We have not put Seema and her son on the train. The matter is still being investigated,” a senior FRRO official told IANS.

Auto rickshaw driver Khalid his wife Seema along with their neighbour Malti Patra were picked up by the northeast Delhi Police from their Faridabad, a satellite town on the outskirts of the national capital, house Jan 6.

Patra was released later after she was found to be an Indian citizen. The police also released Khalid, allegedly to arrange for bribe money to have his family released.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (northeast Delhi) S.S. Yadav said they have launched an investigation into Khalid’s allegations. Khalid and his elder son Yasin were also let off later after he managed to produce evidence of being an Indian citizen.

But Delhi Police then handed over his wife and younger son to FRRO for their deportation.

Khalid has not been allowed to meet his family. With all doors being slammed on him, Khalid has now decided to go to Kolkata to unite with his family.

“They have not informed me when my wife and son would be deported. So I am going there in advance to check whether they have arrived in Kolkata,” he told a newspaper.

According to FFRO officials, inquiry in their case is still pending and deportation of illegal aliens was done only in batches of at least 60 people.

“Usually Bangladeshis are sent in a week or two week time from Delhi to West Bengal,” said the officer.