Jhargram:
One and a half years after being ousted from Lalgarh by Maoists and Naxal-backed PCPA, thousands of CPI-M supporters today made their presence felt again in the area, holding a 12-km march and rally amidst tight security arrangements.
Holding CPI(M) flags, an estimated 10,000-strong mob, including women, led by CPI(M) zonal committee secretary of Lalgarh Anuj Pandey, marched 12 kms from Dharampur and Goaltore to Lalgarh. The entire stretch in the Maoist-hit area had already been sanitised by police and joint forces.
Some of the supporters carried traditional bows and arrows and raised slogans against Maoists and PCPA.
Pandey, who was evicted by the Maoists from his residence at Dharampur in the Lalgrh area on June 13, 2009 with the house having been destroyed, had come back home on September two this year.
The marchers went round the Lalgarh market and held a rally in front of the Lalgarh CPI(M) office which had been damaged by the Maoists a year and a half back.
Asked how CPI(M) could hold such a big rally in the area when this could have sparked a law and order problem, West Midnapore's Superintendent of Police Monoj Kumar Verma said they had taken the permission a couple of days back.
On whether separate police arrangement was made for the rally, Verma said, "We already have adequate police forces in the area including the joint forces. So there was no need for a separate arrangement."
The supporters on reaching Lalgarh reopened the CPI-M party office which was torched by the Maoists and Anuj Pandey unfurled the party flag.
Speaking at the rally, Pandey said, "Some people in the name of politics want disturbance in the area, but we are peace-loving people and we want peace."
He said in the last two years 58 CPI-M activists were murdered.
He requested the youths of the area not to be under the influence of Maoists and come back to the mainstream.
A senior district police officer said the administration wanted to see increase in political activity so as to help ease tension that persisted in the area.