A leaflet from Nari Ijjat Bachao Committee. Original Bengali version at http://sanhati.com/articles/4100/
Dear friends,
It has been 100 days since the current Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee entered Writers. She has claimed that the first 100 days have been days of unqualified success. The media has duly seconded that opinion. Her ministers and cadres are daydreaming about the incipient creation of a New Bengal.
The residents of the Jungal Mahal are not thinking along these lines. But a small fraction of them joined Mamata’s party, and in their quest to exert influence in the area, have started terror on a scale larger than that perpetrated by the CPIM.
Two new armies were created after the new government was formed. They have been on the attack for the last one month. Before May 13, the TMC didn’t attack the people of the Jungal Mahal, or create armies. Moreover, their election campaign was based on the demands of pulling out the Central Forces, the unconditional release of all political prisoners, and the the arrest of Harmad leaders. They said that if they got the votes, they would transform Jungal Mahal.
Things really did change. Mamata changed her tone, and along with the joint forces, the Harmad army, and the Ganapratirodh Committee was created Mamata’s Harmad army, under the leadership of Nishith. On top of that, from September 10, ten thousand residents of Jungal Mahal are being enlisted for SPO, Home Guard, and NVF, promising a new huge army to terrorise the masses in the future.
Scene 1:
August 27 was Martyr Umakanta’s first Martyrdom anniversary. His house is in Bankshole, and in his memory his wife Sabita Mahato, and his parents, children, and the villagers in general came together to make a temple, on his land, at his home, with money from selling his crops. But the CPIM sent the Joint Forces and destroyed the structure. The Joint forces sent by Mamata’s government started harassing Sabita. They didn’t destroy the new structure, but did destroy Sabita’s strength of mind. They questioned ; why did her husband die? For what? Did Maoists give money for the temple? You have to give them up. A thousand other questions and threats.
Dipak Ghosh of Mamata’s party (the Great Leader, IPS) wrote a huge article in the Dainik Statesman three days after the death of Umakanto. After his party came to power, they started behaving like the previous government. Last Saturday Sabita had to get bail for Rs. 3000, for a false case. How many new cases will come can only be said by Mamata.
We alone can understand the anguished cries of terrorized infants. We are standing with them for their development – the Ma Mati Mamata brigade are singing a different tune – a tune that promises terror on a larger scale then even the CPIM.
Scene 2:
On 20th August, at 10 in the morning, in Lalgarh’s Amliya village. The Joint Forces enter the imprisoned Chhatradhar Mahato’s home, and the home of Martyr Banabasi Suchitra. The police destroyed everything. They asked for Srimati Niyoti Mahato, threatened people to bring her out. Niyotidi couldn’t return home the whole day. This is not only Niyotidi’s predicament – it is the predicament of the sisters, mothers, and elder sisters of Jungal Mahal.
Scene 3:
To strengthen Anna Hazare’s anti-corruption movement, students and villagers from different areas of Jungal Mahal started a fast. This was on 24/25 August, in Jhargram and Salboni. Mamata’s police broke it all up, beating up the women and men who were fasting, saying that fasting wasn’t allowed. On 26th June, the people who were fasting for the release of political prisoners were beaten up mercilessly in Belpahari Pathorbakri. Mamata doesn’t even want to give this form of political expression any space. From the end of June to August, this is how it has been.
Scene 4:
Gana Jagoron Mancha and Mamata’s Harmad Bahini have started terrorizing the areas around Jamboni, Jhargram, and Nayagram. We are affected here and village life is subdued and in fear. CPIM Harmads and Mamata Harmads, in their respective spheres of influence , are working with the Joint Forces to attack the masses. The mask of democracy and mass acceptance that the new government, especially Mamata had is now gone. Thus, the pain of the Jungal Mahal is not being recorded naymore. Now, whatever they may say publicly, as far as Jungal Mahal goes Mamata’s position is one of perpetrating terror.
Afer a long time, we too are being forced to prepare for a protest rally. We had hoped for the return of peace to Jungal Mahal. That is why we have not ben agitating. Mamata in the interim hatched scheme after scheme and finally created an army. Now we are being pushed to take the same kinds of preparations that we took to save ourselves from the CPIM Harmads. On 25th August, Mukul Ray came to Jhargram and warned that just because the government was using soft hands, it should not be thought of as weak. But Mukul Babu couldn’t mention the new attacks on the Jungal Mahal. He couldn’t because that would expose them.
We are residents of Jungal Mahal. Mukul Babu may be quiet, but we will tell the world about what is happening in Jungal Mahal today. That is why after such a long time, on 5th September, we are gathering from all over in Jhargram, and protesting Mamata’s terror. Come, let us make this protest a success. Come let us all speak out about the truth in the Jungal Mahal, the truth that Mamata is suppressing from The Writers.
Jyotsna MahatoMahamichhil Samannay Samiti
Nari Ijjat Bachao Committee
