Lalgarh: Day after CPM,Maoists claim many killed,no bodies found

According to sources,in a bid to keep their cadres organised,both the CPI(Maoist) and the ruling CPM resorted to a false campaign over the death toll in the gunbattle between the two groups.

Maoist leader Koteswara Rao alias Kishenji was the first to claim that they had shot dead at least 10 CPM “goons” sheltered in the party’s Enayatpur local committee office. Immediately thereafter,the CPM West Midnapore district committee office claimed that the “people” led by CPM cadres killed at least 12 Maoist cadres. However,on Tuesday,both the parties were silent on their Monday ‘encounter’.

At ground zero,the nearby village of Palasi wore a deserted look as villagers fled,fearing more clashes between the two. However,the Enayatpur CPM office,with bullet marks on its walls,indicated a crossfire between the two sides but there was no sign of blood anywhere.

A local,Dulal Besra,said he had heard an exchange of gunfire for two hours in the evening. “I have no clue if anyone was killed in the firing,” he added.

Lalmohan Patra,chief of Kanakbari gram panchayat adjacent to Enayatpur,said the Maoists had planned to capture the party office. “But this time we have foiled their plans,” added Patra,also a local CPM leader.

Trinamool leader killed in Nandigram

KOLKATA: The Trinamool Congress’s panchayat pradhan for Sonachura village in Nandigram was shot dead by some unidentified assailants late on Tuesday night.

According to reports reaching the state capital,Nishikanta Mondal was a key member of the Bhumi Uchched Protirodh Committee in Nandigram. On Tuesday,he left the Sonachura panchayat office at about 7 pm and was on his way to his home when four motorcycle-borne assailants approached him and fired at point-blank range. He died on the spot. No arrest has been made.

The killing is certain to raise political tempers in Nandigram again. Ashok Bera,a local CPM zonal committee member,said: “We no more have any following in Sonachura. Our men could not have been involved in such a heinous crime. But we know that the blame would be put on us.” ENS