Signalling war ahead,CPM strikes back at Lalgarh Naxals

A total of at least five people from both sides were believed to have died in the gunbattle that began after 50-odd Naxals attacked the CPM local committee office at Manidaha near Enayatpur village. Party sources said CPM cadres were holding half-a-dozen Maoists captive. “There was firing from both sides and some people have died. We cannot take the battering of Maoists for such a long time. We are in touch with leaders in Alimuddin Street,” Dahareshwar Sen,a member of the CPM West Midnapore district committee,said.

Party sources said Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee had gone to Alimuddin Street to monitor the situation. Police and district administration officers said they had “heard” about the clash,but could not confirm details. “I have heard that some people have died but we cannot confirm this as long as we are not able to retrieve bodies. The joint forces are waiting for daybreak to move into the area,” DGP Bhupinder Singh said.

A Maoist leader named Vikas sent text messages to journalists claiming at least 7 CPM cadres had been killed.

This is the second time in three days that the CPM has hit back at the Maoists. They have set up a People’s Resistance Committee,whose members lynched suspected Maoist Swadesh Hembrom in Goalpara Friday.

The Maoists have killed nearly 60 CPM supporters in the last three months. Recently,a school teacher was gunned down in front of children from Classes 2 to 4.

CPM leaders like minister Susanta Ghosh have urged cadres to retaliate without depending on police. He reportedly exhorted a public meeting near Garbeta last week to hit back violently at the Maoists.