Last chances

It might have been called the case of the ignored folder,if it were not for the fact that the West Bengal government had consistently ignored,for years,police intelligence about Maoists,prominent Maoist leaders,as well as their intellectual sympathisers. Therefore,even as the state conducts a scaled-up manhunt for Kishenji,disclosures about the state government not acting on an information folder submitted by the West Midnapore police back in 2006 detailing Kishenjis whereabouts,hideouts and his efforts to rope in intellectuals surprise less than provoke the sigh over chances missed. Of course,Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee doesnt need to be drawn a picture of how things might have transpired in his state today if his administration had feared public opinion less on the eve of the 2006 assembly polls and nabbed Kishenji and company. In fact,for a long time before the state governments newfound urgency in seeking out Maoists,the state police forces had often claimed that despite knowledge about Maoists they couldnt arrest them since they didnt have the governments mandate. Besides,the police claim helplessness not only because intellectuals could not be touched but also since many Maoist sympathisers were close to CPM leaders.

Because the Kishenjis back in 2006 had a free run of Kolkata,today they can call up principal secretaries and complain about polluting mines; they can talk to hundreds of journalists everyday while the chief minister lamely admits that its very difficult to track Kishenji. Since he was allowed to slip through the concrete of the city then,months are going by now chasing him on difficult terrain.

The Bengal government was not only initially insincere in moving against Maoists,but it had been almost downright indulgent,given the apathy for using force against their distant ideological brethren among sections of the Left Front. The products of that insincerity have long come home to roost and the government is as clueless as ever. Last October,it had capitulated shamefully by accepting the release of a kidnapped police officer on Maoist terms. How pathetic things were,was demonstrated when,just a day later,Bhattacharjee thundered that he would not surrender to Maoists. As the Centre and states coordinate anti-Naxal offensives,state governments have the dual role of piloting the assaults and initiating development in affected areas. West Bengal,under the strategy,has been given five battalions of Central paramilitary forces. This is the states last chance to salvage its near-dysfunctional law and order mechanism. For a start,it must pull Kishenji out of the jungles.