CRPF caught in the middle of war zone

NANDIGRAM: The Central Reserve Police Force’s (CRPF) role in abating the Nandigram flare-up is turning out to be more difficult than first assumed because of the interference of a section of Maoist guerrillas.

Observers believe it could trigger more trouble if CPI(M) chooses to play the ‘Maoist card’ in an effort to corner Trinamool Congress. CPI(M) may draw attention to the fact that Trinamool had chosen to ‘ally’ with insurgents who are waging a proxy war with the country, observers said.

CRPF believes the role of state police has been dubious since it did little to maintain normalcy inside and around Nandigram.

Independent observers have long being crying foul about the police having become too subservient to the CPI(M). Not surprising then that CRPF is doing in Nandigram what they may not have done anywhere else in recent times — of mediating between warring political parties, apart from quelling the violence.

“We are here to inject confidence and restore faith in people who are struggling to cope with the systematic killings and torture,” said CRPF deputy inspector general and the commanding officer in Nandigram Alok Raj.

The CRPF is currently conducting meetings with BUPC, Trinamool and CPI(M) workers alike, and facilitating people-to-people contact in severely affected pockets like Sonachura, Garchakraberia and Adhikaripara.

Sources say some Trinamool Congress leaders from East Midnapore had enlisted the help of Maoists to pitch in with arms and weapons from Jharkhand and Andhra Pradesh. “At one point, BUPC and Trinamool Congress found themselves ill-equipped to take on the armed CPI(M) cadres in the lead-up to the Nandigram reclaim plot.

It was then that a few local Trinamool leaders approached Maoists to fight a proxy battle for them against CPI(M)’s goon brigade. Maoists willingly obliged and seizure of sophisticated landmines and automatic weapons is a testimony to that,” said an intelligence officer.

However, people like Tarapada Khatua refuse to buy the argument. A Trinamool district committee member, Khatua said, “Why should we seek help from the Maoist-Naxalites of other states? This is a stupid allegation levelled against us by our political rivals. They are doing it only to justify their planned violence.”