WHILE the blame game of CPI (M) and TMC, as to who is in collusion with the Maoists of Lalgarh or for that matter the whole of West Bengal, is high in the horizon, unauthorised and illegal arms are pouring in the State non-stop. CPI (M) has blamed that it was Mamata’s TMC who was hand in glove with the Maoists helping them creating terrorist activities and smuggling arms. Not only that, with this tacit support from a party who is partner of the ruling conglomerate, Maoists were killing CPI (M) cadres in hundreds. On the other hand Mamata’s party TMC said that in the name of combating the Maoists terrorism the Left Front government of West Bengal has let loose the ‘State terrorism’. Moreover the CPI (M) goons are taking shelter in the camps of Joint Force of Central and State governments and taking advantage of the situation they are pursuing two pronged activities – one, TMC supporters are being uprooted from their houses and ultimately killed; two, they are smuggling arms from the stock of Jt. Forces and stockpiling them in different CPI (M) offices.
The story does not end here. Of all persons the governor of West Bengal MK Narayanan has expressed his worries against the illegal and smuggled arms movement throughout the State especially in trouble-prone areas of West Bengal. In fact he has asked Ardhendu Sen, chief secretary of the State and the authorities of CBI to enquire into the matter and take whatever action is needed to stop it and to book the culprits. According to the informed sources enquiry has already been started.
Arms smuggling is not a new phenomenon in West Bengal. But this has assumed a new dimension for the simple reason that the assembly election of the State is round the corner. The traditional route of arms smuggling into the State is Bangladesh-Nepal border. From Bihar, especially from the district of Munger indigenous arms are smuggled on regular basis. In fact the clandestine arms bazaars have picked up their sales.
After starting the combing operation police has hauled up big amount of arms from different troubled zones. Recently, police seized 445 live bombs, 50 bullets and four muskets from the district of Birbhum. There are many such seizures On August 17, 2010, Times of India, Kolkata, published a news in this regard: “In a pre-dawn swoop at a village in Birbhum’s Nanoor police seized a huge cache of arms and ammunition from the house of CPM supporter Dolon Das, accused in the murder of Trinamool Congress leader Sona Chowdhury. He has been absconding for months. In Das’s house, police found two carbines, three muskets, a .32 pistol, 39 bullets, 40 bombs, and six magazines.”
Nanoor and Labhpur have been on the boil for years. The murder of former CPM MLA on June 30 rattled the administration. “We are conducting raids irrespective of political affiliation of the accused. We know of more stockpiles, especially in Nanoor, Labhpur, Ilambazar & Dubrajpur of Birbhum district. Raids will continue,” said Birbhum SP Humayun Kabir.
Recently the Chief Secretary of the State, Shri Ardhendu Sen met the Governor to tell him that he had a detail discussion with the government and they have agreed for carrying on the enquiry. The Governor would be apprised of the situation from time to time.
He further informed the Governor that in many places CPM cadres have become part of the Joint Force. In the name of self defence these cadres are keeping arms in their personal custody. According to law this is not proper. But fact remains that in this way CPM cadres are stockpiling arms to create vulnerable situation for TMC supporters rather than combating Maoist terrorism.
By and large TMC leader Mamata Banerjee has been putting allegation against the CPM on this count. Chief Secretary Mr Sen had admitted this in his talk with the Governor.
