Political killings keep Bengal on boil as Elections near

The tussle between cadres of CPI(Maoists) and CPI(M) workers has taken an ugly turn in West Bengal with as many as 120 members of CPI(M) being identified, abducted and killed by the Maoists in the past 11 months.

Security agencies fear that these “political killings” would intensify in the coming months as the dates for the assembly elections in West Bengal are announced. Naxalites would definitely try to disrupt the elections.

The ministry of home affairs (MHA) has already acknowledged the presence of armed camps in West Bengal and members of these camps are often seen carrying arms.

“The situation in West Bengal is extremely bad and it will be worse during elections. The situation is like a civil war where one section of people are trying to harm and kill another set of political workers. Although the state government must ensure law and order in the state, the state is in turmoil because of these selective killings,” said a senior home ministry official.

Sources in the home ministry elaborated that of the 312 people killed in West Bengal this year, almost 40 percent of the killings are because of Naxals who have targeted members of the CPI(M).

“The crackdown against Maoists is continuing by the state police and jungle warfare teams of paramilitary, but we are expecting a rise in violence levels soon,” added the officer.

A senior member of the home ministry cautioned that in 2009 only 9 Naxals were killed by security forces in various incidents but this year, the central forces have killed more than 60 Maoists.