Many former Maoists in Bengal poll fray as Trinamool candidates

Hamlet was recruited by Maoist area commander Subodh Hansda alias China,in 2009. “When I was 22,I left home. In 2010-end,I was arrested and faced two murder charges. After 10 months,I was granted bail,” said Hamlet,who joined the TMC after his release.

Two of his former squad members — Lakshikanta Mahato,accused in six murder cases,and Yuvaraj Murmu,accused in five murder cases — act as his aides and campaign for him.

“We went underground after joning the Maoists. We were asked to expand the organisation in schools. We were ordered to recruit teenagers,and given the job of collecting 25 per cent of the salary of government employees in the area. We were told to prepare a list of corrupt persons in the area,who would then be killed by the squads,” said Mahato.

Bengal panchayat polls: Many former Maoists in fray as TMC candidates

Hamlet and his comrades often face threats from Maoists. “We are very scared of them. If they become successful in regrouping in the area,they will kill us. But the administration is helping us a lot,” said Hamlet.

In Kharbandhi anchal in Gopiballavpur area of West Midnapore district — once the Maoists’ core area,the TMC has won nine of the 10 seats uncontested. Most of the candidates are former Maoists.

There is Dulal Mandi,accused in three murder cases,who has won from Balipal. “I used to be a TMC worker earlier. We once caught a Maoist,Sushil Mahato,who was extorting money in our village. We called the police,but got no help. After that,the Maoists would threaten us everyday. Finally,I joined the squad to save my family,” said Dulal,who was arrested in January 2011.

Prabir Jana,another Maoist and accused in two murder cases,has also won a gram panchayat seat. “After Mamata Banerjee came to power,we met TMC MP Subhendu Adhikari and told him that we want to join the TMC. He gave us shelter. We even campaigned for the TMC in the Assembly polls,” he said.

Subhas Baskey is another former Maoist who is contesting as a TMC candidate from Ergoda anchal in Silda,West Midnapore. “A group of 10-12 Maoists would knock at my door every evening and order me to cook for them and collect rations. They killed several villagers,branding them as police informers. We did not have the courage to go to the police,so we went underground,” he said. He faces charges of sedition,conspiracy and waging war against the state.

There are others in neighbouring Bankura district as well. Prabir Garai,who married Suchitra Mahato,said to be former Maoist leader Kishenji’s trusted lieutenant,is contesting the zilla parishad seat from Kotolpur. Gorai used to be a PCAPA activist. A local TMC leader is contesting against him as an independent.

Justifying the induction of former Maoists,Churamoni Hansda,TMC MLA from Gopiballavpur,said: “They were forced to join the Maoists at gunpoint. If they remain alert,we believe that Maoists will not be able to regroup in the area. Our leadership will also ensure that the cases slapped against these men are withdrawn — a promise we made before the Assembly polls.”

Srikanta Mahato,TMC MLA from Binpur,added: “During the CPM government,the Junglemahal youth were forced to join the Maoist squads and PCAPA. But now they want to come back to mainstream politics,leaving their life in the jungles. It is our moral duty to give them a chance to live.”

Meanwhile,the CPM has criticised the TMC for fielding former Maoists. Dipak Sarkar,CPM district secretary in West Midnapore,said: “The TMC has a single-point agenda. By fielding such candidates,they have spread the message of fear,ensuring that villagers would not put up other candidates. The Maoists have joined the TMC because they were assured that their cases will be withdrawn.”