Train Derailed in India, Officials Blame Maoists

[mykittyhasaboner]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gyaneshwari_Express_train_derailment#cite_note-11

http://www.hindustantimes.com/68-killed-as-Maoist-attack-Maharashtra-bound-train/Article1-549604.aspx


"The PCPA have left two posters near the rail tracks clearly owning responsibility for the derailment of the Kurla-bound Gyaneswari Express," IGP (Law and Order) S Karpurakayastha said in Kolkata.


The posters read, "We earlier demanded withdrawal of the joint security forces from Jangalmahal (West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia) and end of CPI(M) atrocities, but those demands were not met."


Another poster demanded immediate withdrawal of the joint forces from the area.


Police have seized both posters.



http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/10178967.stm


The death toll in the train collision in eastern India has gone up to 71, a railways spokesman said. At least 149 people were injured when two trains collided after one was derailed by what officials said was an act of sabotage by Maoist rebels. The Calcutta-Mumbai passenger train derailed overnight in West Bengal where a section of track had been removed.

But reports say the Maoist rebels, from the People's Committee Against Police Atrocities, deny any involvement.

Carriages and passengers were thrown in front of a goods train travelling in the opposite direction.

Officials said rescue workers were still working to free survivors from the wreckage in the Jhargram area of West Midnapore - about 150kms (90 miles) west of Calcutta.

The area is known to be a stronghold of Maoist rebels.
Maoist claim The state police chief said a 46cm (1.5ft) portion of the train track was missing.

Bhupinder Singh said posters from a local group believed to have close ties to the Maoists had been found at the scene, claiming responsibility. But an Indian news agency later reported that a spokesman for the group, the People's Committee Against Police Atrocities, had called to deny any involvement.

Some analysts say that in this case the Maoist script may have gone slightly awry. Maoists frequently tamper with railway lines and often these lead to minor derailments; there have been hijackings but no major attacks on civilian transport with such a death toll.

The rebels had called for observance of a "black week" of protests from Friday to Wednesday in five states - including West Bengal - where they wield considerable influence.

Early reports said the passenger train had been derailed by an explosion.
The incident happened at 0130 local time (2000 GMT) on Thursday.

Some 14 hours later, rescue workers were still using sledge hammers and gas cutters to break into carriages where survivors were thought to be trapped, the BBC's Amitabha Bhattasali reported from the scene.

Bodies are still being removed from mangled carriages and helicopters are airlifting injured passengers to nearby hospitals. Hundreds of police, troops and emergency workers are involved in the search and recovery effort. Crushed bodies Railway spokesman Soumitra Majumdar said five coaches of the passenger train, the Gyaneshwar Express, had been derailed due to missing "fish plates" - which join rails together.

These coaches then fell on to the neighbouring track where they were rammed by the goods train, he said. There were 13 carriages - including 10 sleeper coaches and a coach with unreserved seating - on the passenger train, the Times of India reported.

Our correspondent said three carriages were totally wrecked, while several others were damaged. Among the emergency teams sent to the scene were 12 doctors and 20 paramedics from Kharagpur, and two doctors from the Kalaikunda airbase in the district, the newspaper reported.
India's railway minister, Mamata Banerjee, has visited the crash site to oversee the rescue operation.

The government has been under pressure following a wave of Maoist-led violence, the most audacious one taking place in April when 76 paramilitary troopers were ambushed and killed.
It was the single biggest attack on the Indian security forces by the rebels.

[scarletghoul]

This sounds like a frame up to me. Why would the Maoists suddenly decide to live up to the evil terrorist image and kill a load of civilians ? Why would they do something so careless when a vital point of their PPW is mass support ? And why would they leave posters at the scene but then deny responsability ?

The fact is, this is perfect for the government; it doesn't harm their forces and it discredits the Maoists. I was talking to an Indian student on FB today and he says he has lost any kind of sympathy with the maoists and would support airstrikes against them. For the reactionaries, this really is too good to be true. It's completely inconsistant with the maoists' previous tactics, and completely in accordance with the image the state likes to paint of them.

[Blake's Baby]

That sounds sensible. I take it that you condemn the atrocity, whoever perpetrated it?

[scarletghoul]

Yes, of course. I expect the Maoists will too, though I havent been able to find any statement by the Party.

The Maoist-affiliated Peoples' Committee Against Police Atrocities is being blamed because some anonymous guy called up a news agency and said he was from the PCPA and they did it. This, along with 2 posters found at the scene seems to be the only evidence. The PCPA itself has denied involvement

The spokesperson of PCPA (People’s Committee Against Police Atrocities) Asit Mahato on Friday denied any involvement in the train derailment near Jhargram in West Bengal.
Mahato told PTI “We were in no way involved. This is not our act”.
Earlier, PTI had issued a story saying the Maoist-backed group had claimed responsibility for derailing the train. The news agency had reported someone claiming to represent the PCPA had called its offices in Kolkata to say its members had sabotaged the railway track in West Bengal.
"The PCAPA have left two posters near the rail tracks clearly owning responsibility for the derailment of the Kurla-bound Gyaneswari Express," IGP (Law and Order) S Karpurakayastha told PTI here.
The posters read, "We earlier demanded withdrawal of the joint security forces from Jangalmahal (West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia) and end of CPI(M) atrocities, but those demands were not met."
Another poster demanded immediate withdrawal of the joint forces from the area. Police have seized both posters.
On October 27 last year, the PCPA had detained the Bhubaneswar-New Delhi Rajdhani Express for eight hours during a bandh called by the outfit. Nearly 400 villagers owing allegiance to the PCPA had blocked the Delhi-bound Rajdhani Express at Banstala halt in Jhargram.
The blockade was enforced as part of an indefinite bandh in the district to protest security force operations in the area. PTI



Why would they admit and deny at the same time ?

[Saorsa]

This whole thing is ridiculous. The Indian government is getting increasingly worried by the success of the People's War, so it fabricates things like this to try and discredit the Maoists.

And of course, the Indian government's allies on the 'left' are as reliable as always.

[mykittyhasaboner]

One would think that the government would be a bit better at framing the Naxalites--but a few posters and what not is hardly conclusive. If anything it is conclusive that the Maoists didn't do this; along with the fact that a spokesperson for the PCPA denied involvement. The real question is who did it? The Maoists would have no motivation for such an attack, at least that I can tell. If it was the government in a false flag attempt then it demonstrates their pitiful desperation.

Could anyone else possibly be blamed?

[The Vegan Marxist]

Although I may be wrong, & have no evidence to back it up, I can at least be the first to say it here.

The government did it! This is a false flag operation against the Naxalites & PCPA!

[Rakshas]

It is a plan gone horribly wrong and the Maoists are denying any hand in it. What the Maoists must have planned was a derailment of the train (still endangering the lives of civilians). When the train derailed and some coaches jumped tracks and landed on the other track. A goods train from opposite direction rammed into the derailed coaches in full speed, resulting high casualty figures. Now Maoists can deny any involvement, but the thing is they (Maoists) are the only group operating in that region that can manage to pull up something like this. Also, the Maoists claim to fight for the landless yet kill innocent people in the name of being informers, for being members of Communist Party of India (Marxist). All of these people are poor and small farmers. So much for the peasant right!! Also, during the last General Elections of 2009. Maoists actively supported Trinamool Congress (a reactionary right wing political party). I cannot understand how come they cannot join forces with CPI(M) yet they are too eager to become tools of the bourgeois political parties? All you hear about them is striking on msecurity forces, occasionally killing civilians yet, they have not killed any right wing politician or any corporate mafiosi? They will kill cadres of CPI(M), hobnob with bourgeois politicians and political parties, receive money from unaccounted sources. From being a Naxal/Maoist supporter, I am now skeptical of their design and their intentions.

[pranabjyoti]

It is a plan gone horribly wrong and the Maoists are denying any hand in it. What the Maoists must have planned was a derailment of the train (still endangering the lives of civilians). When the train derailed and some coaches jumped tracks and landed on the other track. A goods train from opposite direction rammed into the derailed coaches in full speed, resulting high casualty figures. Now Maoists can deny any involvement, but the thing is they (Maoists) are the only group operating in that region that can manage to pull up something like this. Also, the Maoists claim to fight for the landless yet kill innocent people in the name of being informers, for being members of Communist Party of India (Marxist). All of these people are poor and small farmers. So much for the peasant right!! Also, during the last General Elections of 2009. Maoists actively supported Trinamool Congress (a reactionary right wing political party). I cannot understand how come they cannot join forces with CPI(M) yet they are too eager to become tools of the bourgeois political parties? All you hear about them is striking on msecurity forces, occasionally killing civilians yet, they have not killed any right wing politician or any corporate mafiosi? They will kill cadres of CPI(M), hobnob with bourgeois politicians and political parties, receive money from unaccounted sources. From being a Naxal/Maoist supporter, I am now skeptical of their design and their intentions.
It seems that you are a part of their planning. Kindly tale us a little more detail about the plan. Most of us here are in dark now.:confused:

[RedStarOverChina]

Also, during the last General Elections of 2009. Maoists actively supported Trinamool Congress (a reactionary right wing political party). I cannot understand how come they cannot join forces with CPI(M) yet they are too eager to become tools of the bourgeois political parties?
I can understand perfectly why they wouldn't join forces with CPI(M)...but could you elaborate on their alleged support for Trinamool Congress in 2009? Maybe provide a link or an article?

Was it because they led the Nandigram movement?

[The Vegan Marxist]

I can't find a single article about the Naxalites supporting the Trinamool Congress, but I found an article of the TC supporting the campaign against "Operation Green Hunt": http://www.newsofap.com/newsofap-7819-25-trinamool-congress-leader-kabir-suman-slams-offensive-on-naxalites-newsofap.html

[Saorsa]

The Maoists didn't support the Trinamool. The Trinamool and the CPM are rivals, and both accuse each other of being in league with the Maoists.


Now Maoists can deny any involvement, but the thing is they (Maoists) are the only group operating in that region that can manage to pull up something like this.

That's ridiculous.


Also, the Maoists claim to fight for the landless yet kill innocent people in the name of being informers, for being members of Communist Party of India (Marxist).

The CPM) isn't even a political party any more. It's a warlord clan, a group people join for power and privilege - just like the other parties in India. The CPM oppresses the people, and the people have the right to respond with violence.


All you hear about them is striking on msecurity forces, occasionally killing civilians yet, they have not killed any right wing politician or any corporate mafiosi?

Maybe you should do a little research yourself, rather than basing your opinion on what you hear from the corporate media.


They will kill cadres of CPI(M), hobnob with bourgeois politicians and political parties, receive money from unaccounted sources.

Wow, you really have a lot of inside information about the Maoists. Does Kishenji correspond with you regularly? :lol:

[Rakshas]

http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1131700

NANDIGRAM: Nandigram in West Bengal's East Midnapore district is an island of terror. Access is tough and stories abound of looting and killing.

The clandestine alliance between the right and extreme left in the form of the Trinamool Congress and Maoists has seen a huge deployment of sophisticated arms and explosivesin the area.


http://www.merinews.com/article/maoist-trinamool-link-embarrasing-for-upa/15773435.shtml

THE STUNNING revelation of close cooperation between Maoists and the Trinamool Congress by a senior Maoist leader may put the Congress-led UPA Government at the Center in an embarrassing situation, according to some political observers.

http://www.pragoti.org/node/458

he Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led government in the State has maintained that the Bhumi Uchhed Pratirodh Committee (BUPC)- Trinamool Congress combine, which organised the nearly year-long agitation against the State government’s land acquisition plans, was infiltrated by cadre of the Communist Party of India (Maoist) and that the Maoists had trained BUPC-Trinamool cadre to mount armed attacks against the Police and CPI(M) activists.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Im-ready-to-mediate-with-Maoists-Trinamool-MP-Kabir-Suman/articleshow/5674805.cms

KOLKATA: Kabir Suman, the Trinamool Congress MP who is not always known to toe the party line and a hugely popular poet-singer in West Bengal, says he is willing to mediate between the central government and Maoists.


[Editor's note: - Why would an elected Member of Parliament belonging to a right reactionary fascist party like Trinamool would show interest in mediation with the Maoists?]

[Saorsa]

Right. So you've provided two quotes from the bourgeois media where they allege that the Maoists and the Trinamool are co-operating. Are we supposed to be impressed?

[Rakshas]

http://beta.thehindu.com/news/states/other-states/article78504.ece

Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, who has vowed to throw the ultras out of Bengal, has been accused by a top Maoist leader of having taken their help in Singur and Nandigram and now turning her back on them.

“Ms. Mamata used the people’s movement at Singur and Nandigram to reach the corridors of power at the Centre and now she is dreaming of the chief minister’s chair at the cost of people’s interest,” Maoist leader Kishenji said in a fax message.

[Rakshas]

Also, add the arrest of several top notch Maoist/Naxal leaders in recent months such as Kobad Ghandy and Chhatradhar Mahato, points to the fact that Naxal/Maoist base is fast eroding. Both the leaders were nabbed by police acting on a tip off. CPI(M) has always refrained from using force as an option against the Maoists, even though Naxals and Maoists continue kill CPI(M) cadres at will with impunity. Naxals and Maoists may have differences of opinion about the way to go about a revolution, but why Naxals are reluctant to join hands with other leftists? Why are they eager to be used as killing machines for the bourgeois parties to wipe off CPI(M)? Are Naxals/Maoists part of the pseudo-movements devised by the right to wipe off legitimate leftists? do not forget, one of the founders of the Naxal movement, Charu Mazumdar, was found dead in a house of a politician belonging to the Indian National Congress, the biggest bourgeois party in India. What was he (Charu Mazumdar) doing there?

[Crux]

Right. So you've provided two quotes from the bourgeois media where they allege that the Maoists and the Trinamool are co-operating. Are we supposed to be impressed?
While it is my understanding the CPI(M) today basically serves the role as a bourgeois party (though no doubt there are people in their rank-and-file that hold differing views) I don't think you should be so quick to dismiss what Rakshas has to say.

[S.Artesian]

INow Maoists can deny any involvement, but the thing is they (Maoists) are the only group operating in that region that can manage to pull up something like this. Also, the Maoists claim to fight for the landless yet kill innocent people in the name of being informers, for being members of Communist Party of India (Marxist). All of these people are poor and small farmers. So much for the peasant right!! Also, during the last General Elections of 2009. Maoists actively supported Trinamool Congress (a reactionary right wing political party). I cannot understand how come they cannot join forces with CPI(M) yet they are too eager to become tools of the bourgeois political parties? All you hear about them is striking on msecurity forces, occasionally killing civilians yet, they have not killed any right wing politician or any corporate mafiosi? They will kill cadres of CPI(M), hobnob with bourgeois politicians and political parties, receive money from unaccounted sources. From being a Naxal/Maoist supporter, I am now skeptical of their design and their intentions.


Not for nothing, comrade, but I've spent a bit of time in the railroad industry, and more time than I cared to investigating derailments.

Depending on track conditions, type of rail, and speeds, any two people with a sledge hammer, a crowbar, and shovel, and maybe a bolt cutter, and enough time can derail a train.

Kids have done it in the US with less equipment than that.

[vampire squid]

do not forget, one of the founders of the Naxal movement, Charu Mazumdar, was found dead in a house of a politician belonging to the Indian National Congress, the biggest bourgeois party in India. What was he (Charu Mazumdar) doing there?

um, no, he died in police custody?

[Saorsa]

Rakshas is just trolling. There's so many factual inaccuracies in his posts I don't even know how to respond.

[Saorsa]

The Maoists and the People's Committee Against Police Atrocities have both denied all involvement. So now this boils down to the Indian government's word against the revolutionaries word - which side are you on?

http://www.icawpi.org/en/peoples-resistance/statements/467-both-the-cpi-maoist-and-pcapa-have-denied-their-involvement-in-the-friday-train-derailment

[The Vegan Marxist]

The Maoists and the People's Committee Against Police Atrocities have both denied all involvement. So now this boils down to the Indian government's word against the revolutionaries word - which side are you on?

http://www.icawpi.org/en/peoples-resistance/statements/467-both-the-cpi-maoist-and-pcapa-have-denied-their-involvement-in-the-friday-train-derailment

The question that should be asked here is, who benefits from this more? The idea that killing innocent civilians in order to gain support from those civilians is absolutely absurd. So it only leaves to two explanations, 1) one of the opposition parties, whether government run or not, derailed the train; or 2) the train had crashed due to a freak accident. I'm willing to go with two, but if compared with the blame on the Maoists with #1, I'd go with #1.

[S.Artesian]

But where do we stand today?

The organizations identified as being responsible for this derailment have denied their participation in this incident, haven't they?

The charges of an explosion, land mine, etc. have not been corroborated as there seems to be no chemical residue of explosives found at the site.

The argument is being made that "fish plates," which are the plates that sit upon the railroad ties, [called sleepers in British/India RR jargon] and upon which the rails rest were removed.

That can certainly be catastrophic if enough of them are removed, and particularly if the the track section is curved, rather than straight [straight track is called tangent track in railroad operations], as the centripetal force of the locomotive wheels will roll the unsecured rails over in a curve.

But generally, you need a good section of track, even curved track, with the plates, and the securing devices removed to cause a train operating over the section to derail.

What's a good section of track? I heard the Indian govt. representatives claiming such disassembly had occurred over 50 meters of track. And that is sufficient distance... but..

But I also read that trains had been operating at approximately 30-40 minute intervals prior to the derailment. If the sleepers were spaced every meter or so, that's 50 plates [assuming removal of the plates on only the outside [what we call the "high side] of the curve, and about 100 clips. That's not easy to do,[I] timewise, unless you have 2 or 3 gangs working in tandem.

So.... so something doesn't sound right to me in this story. It doesn't sound right to say the "Maoists" did it, when the groups so accused have denied it. The proposed narrative for the actual derailment doesn't sound right.

This is not a perfect world. Accidents do happen, and usually the accidents are the result of improper maintenance, internal fatigue in the rails, crew failure [excess speed in a section of track] or equipment failure [the terrible high speed derailment of the ICE train in Germany was caused by a wheel/axle assembly literally coming apart while the train was in motion]. It is possible that this derailment has nothing to do with sabotage.

[scarletghoul]

Great post and observations, however it would be a truly, truly, amazing coincidence that a train just happens to derail in a Maoist stronghold, in the middle of a huge government campaign against the Maoists which includes giving the appearance that they target civilians. A gift to the capitalists from heaven !

[kefka]

how unfortunate that the police has confiscated the poster so we won't be able to see the top-notch evidence:lol:

[S.Artesian]

Great post and observations, however it would be a truly, truly, amazing coincidence that a train just happens to derail in a Maoist stronghold, in the middle of a huge government campaign against the Maoists which includes giving the appearance that they target civilians. A gift to the capitalists from heaven !


Yep, that is amazing. As I said something doesn't smell right here. But.. the thing about internal fractures in rails, or bad track geometry, -- doesn't care what the politics are.

Anyway, if I were conducting this investigation, I'd tell everybody to shut their mouths until we know and agree on what did and did not happen. Silence usually has a way of making those with political agendas drop out of the investigation and go to the sidelines to speculate freely about their own particular "devils."

[pranabjyoti]

Yep, that is amazing. As I said something doesn't smell right here. But.. the thing about internal fractures in rails, or bad track geometry, -- doesn't care what the politics are.

Anyway, if I were conducting this investigation, I'd tell everybody to shut their mouths until we know and agree on what did and did not happen. Silence usually has a way of making those with political agendas drop out of the investigation and go to the sidelines to speculate freely about their own particular "devils."
The problem here is running an "investigation" by Govt. of India and we can clearly guess the outcome.:lol:

[Rakshas]

Another evidence of alliance between the Maoists and the right wing reactionary political party Trinamool Congress.

======================================

MIDNAPORE: Amidst allegations that the People's Committee against Police Atrocities played a role in Jnaneswari Express derailment, the Maoist-backed organisation on Sunday denied any involvement in the incident and charged the CPM with "hatching the plot".

"We have no intention to target trains and we condemn and mourn such a colossal loss of civilian lives," PCPA convener, Asit Mahato said and charged the CPM "with hatching the plot".

A day after the state police claimed to have identified two persons of the PCPA recently released on bail having a hand in the derailment of the train's 13 coaches, Mahato said, "politically motivated statements are being issued to separate us from the masses."

"We will take out a procession in the Jangalmahal to mourn the dead in the train disaster. We strongly condemn such acts which take lives of common, innocent men and we express deep shock," Mahato said.

Countering police's claim, the PCPA leader named four CPM district and local leaders and alleged "under their leadership, the CPM has opened camps in the last 15 days at Burjoli, Kolla, Patri and Dahimara villages close to Sardiha where the express train derailed."

The mishap that occurred in the wee hours on Friday has claimed 148 lives so far.

Mahato further alleged the four CPM leaders "conspired to create panic by triggering a train mishap and the objective is to malign us and take us away from the people in Jangalmahal by creating a bad name for us."

The PCPA leader said "CPM had plans to politically isolate railway minister Mamata Banerjee so that she is forced to resign under directive of the UPA government after the train mishap".

"We strongly protest against such a conspiracy by the CPM which led to such a heinous crime," Mahato said.

The Railway minister had said on Sunday that there was "a political conspiracy" in the derailment of the Jnaneswari Express two days ahead of the civic polls in the state.

"Whoever did it... it was a political conspiracy. The accident has happened two days before the (civic) election. One may be politically against us, but I feel bad the way the incident was engineered to fulfil one's political interests", Banerjee had said.

============================================

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/PCPA-denies-hand-in-West-Bengal-train-derailment-alleges-CPM-role/articleshow/5991365.cms

Why should it concern Maoist backed PCPA, what CPIM does to a right wing, fascist reactionary party and its sole leader Mamta Banerji? If I were a Naxal, I would not give a squat about what CPIM or any other leftist party did to a rightist party. This only goes on to show that Naxals/Maoists are just pseudo-revolutionaries, who are mere tools at the hands of the reactionary Indian ruling class to wipe off the legitimate leftists.

Here is what will happen:

1. The Indian ruling class, with the help of its subservient media, will create an atmosphere against the Maoists and Naxals to launch an all out anti-Naxal operation. Not only Naxals will meet their fate at the hands of their right wing handlers. This will result in detention and extra-judicial killings of leftists (Naxals/Maoists/CPI/CPIM) are anyone even remotely connected with left wing. Leftist writers, journalists would be jailed or kept on watch.

[Rakshas]

And by the way, Naxals/Maoists are known to attack Railway trains and blowing up railway tracks. Beside killing security forces (leaving right wing reactionaries/ bourgeoise class untouched), killings poor farmers and peasents on the suspicion of having sympathies with CPIM, blowing up school buildings, targeting railways is their favorite "revolutionary" activity.:lol:

[Crux]

Rakshas: Comrade, don't just throw around claims. Back them up. Debate the tactics.

[pranabjyoti]

Rakshas: Comrade, don't just throw around claims. Back them up. Debate the tactics.
CPI(Marxist) (I hate to say them "Marxist") cadres and their supporters lack that ability very much today.

[Crux]

CPI(Marxist) (I hate to say them "Marxist") cadres and their supporters lack that ability very much today.
Has there been any attempt to an outreach to the rank-and-file of the CPI(M) CPI etc from Maoists, or do they regard the membership in it's entirety to be corrupt?

[blackwave]

We have no evidence either way, so let's not go jumping on the 'I don't like him, therefore he did it' bandwagon.

[The Vegan Marxist]

And by the way, Naxals/Maoists are known to attack Railway trains and blowing up railway tracks. Beside killing security forces (leaving right wing reactionaries/ bourgeoise class untouched), killings poor farmers and peasents on the suspicion of having sympathies with CPIM, blowing up school buildings, targeting railways is their favorite "revolutionary" activity.:lol:

I'd LOVE for you to prove these claims of yours to me. :rolleyes:

[Rakshas]

Naxal-backed PCPA behind train attack: Cops
CNN-IBNPosted on May 29, 2010 at 23:20 | Updated May 30, 2010 at 00:21


0
New Delhi/Kolkata: People's Committee against Police Atrocities (PCPA), a group backed by the Naxals, sabotaged the railway line which led to the derailment of the Howrah-Kurla Lomanya Tilak Gyaneshwari Super Deluxe Express train in West Bengal killing at least 114 people and injuring over 200 others.

Bengal Police sources have told CNN-IBN that PCPA leaders Umakanto Mahato and Bapi Mahato planned and executed the derailment of the Gyaneshwari Express between Khemasoli and Sardiya stations near Jhargram, about 150 km from Kolkata.

Umakanto Mahato and Bapi Mahato with the help of some disgruntled PCPC cadres abducted a railway lineman Dayaram Mahato posted at Sardiha station from his house at about 9:30 PM on Thursday night after threatening him and his family. The PCPA leaders warned Mahato that his entire family would be killed if he did not accompany them and carried out their orders.
The PCPA leaders then forced Mahato to open pandrol clips, which fixes the track to the sleepers, at around 1 AM on Friday as they knew that Gyaneshwari Express would be passing the area in about 15-20 minutes. Mahato was chosen to for the job as an experienced guy can remove the pandrol clips in just a few minutes where it would have taken almost an hour for inexperienced person to do the same.

Umakanto Mahato along with a few PCPA members remained at the site with the lineman while Bapi Mahato went to Sardiha station and blocked a goods train. He let the goods train go after getting go ahead from fellow cadres from the accident site. The goods train ploughed into some bogies of the derailed Gyaneshwari Express which led to more people being killed and injured.

Here is a respite for Naxals:

However, West Bengal police sources claimed that the attack was not planned the by Maoist top leadership and the PCPA local leaders planned it on their own. They said that there has been divisions within party ranks recently.

Naxals have already denied their hand in the train attack. A Naxal spokesperson Akash said that they had no involvement in the attack and added that they would call a public court and punish the guilty.


Source: http://ibnlive.in.com/news/naxalbacked-pcpa-carried-out-train-attack-cops/116582-37-64.html

[scarletghoul]

We have no evidence either way, so let's not go jumping on the 'I don't like him, therefore he did it' bandwagon.
I don't think the Maoists did it, not because I like them, but because they have absoloutly no reason to do it (its totally counter to PPW), the evidence of their involvement is poor at best, and it greatly benefits the reactionaries.

True, there's no available evidence of anyone doing it, but as it's unlikely to be the Maoists we can make a guess that either the government or pro-government forces were behind it.

[Crux]

Here is a respite for Naxals:

However, West Bengal police sources claimed that the attack was not planned the by Maoist top leadership and the PCPA local leaders planned it on their own. They said that there has been divisions within party ranks recently.

Naxals have already denied their hand in the train attack. A Naxal spokesperson Akash said that they had no involvement in the attack and added that they would call a public court and punish the guilty.


Source: http://ibnlive.in.com/news/naxalbacked-pcpa-carried-out-train-attack-cops/116582-37-64.html
Divide and conquer.

[Saorsa]

And by the way, Naxals/Maoists are known to attack Railway trains and blowing up railway tracks.

It has happened, but for military reasons. The Maoists don't attack civilians for fun like some of the Jihadist groups. The last case I car remember of a train attack was when some Maoists machinegunned a passing train, wounding some passengers, and within days the party issued a statement condemning the attack and saying it was carried out by overzealous and undertrained new recruits to a local village militia.


Beside killing security forces (leaving right wing reactionaries/ bourgeoise class untouched),

1: These security forces are murdering, burning, raping and looting their way through the Indian countryside. Death is the bare minimum they deserve.

2: There aren't many millionaires wandering around with them.


killings poor farmers and peasents on the suspicion of having sympathies with CPIM,

The Maoists don't kill people for having 'sympathies' towards the CPM. They kill CPM leaders, CPM warlords and CPM thugs.


blowing up school buildings,

And why does this happen? Because the state forces have a deliberate strategy of turning schools into barracks in their areas of operation. This is partly because the schools tend to be one of the few well built buildings around, and partly so that the state can then accuse the Maoists of being 'anti-development' if they attack the school-turned-barracks.

[pranabjyoti]

The Maoists don't kill people for having 'sympathies' towards the CPM. They kill CPM leaders, warlords and thugs.And to add, police agents and reactionary minded people. So far, none has been killed for being just a CPM supporter.

[pranabjyoti]

Has there been any attempt to an outreach to the rank-and-file of the CPI(M) CPI etc from Maoists, or do they regard the membership in it's entirety to be corrupt?
It's not a question of entirely corrupt or not, but rather the ideology. CPI(Marxist) was once a petty-bourgeoisie party, but now turned to be a worst kind of bourgeoisie one. And it's not possible to approach all party members and examine their level of corruption. What I want to say is that, if a single CPI(Marxist) party member is non-corrupt in his/her political life, but still believes in the CPI(Marxist) led propaganda and supports its anti-worker and anti-peasant moves, then certainly he/she is an equal partner in the crime.

[pranabjyoti]

Scavenging Consent: Desperate For Casus Belli (http://www.icawpi.org/en/analysis/opinion/468-scavenging-consent-desperate-for-casus-belli)

By Trevor Selvam

First, the Ms. Quasimodo of Bengal and Indian politics, Mamata Banerjee announces that it was a “bomb blast” with great bombast. Then, Bhupinder Singh, the Police IG and KPSGill-wannabee (who had earlier smeared and lied about Chatradhar Mahato’s insurance, property etc and never bothered to retract anything) says that two posters were found proving that the Maoist PCAPA had taken “responsibility ”for the train disaster. The two posters, it turned out, merely stated the intent of the local PCAPA the reasons for their on-going struggles. Ms. Bomberjee also claimed that a pilot vehicle had passed by just before. She did not state how “before” it was. One hour, two hours, five hours, one day? After the entire place is “infested” with Maoists. Is it not?

Now the tone is changing gradually. A foot and half of fish-plates were found removed. A BBC cameraman has displayed the gap in one of their broadcasts. No evidence of a blast any longer. No evidence of gelatine, dynamite, ammonium nitrate. The foreign press had already expressed some caution, in their statements and terminology. But not the Indian press. They are so free, unfettered and dynamic when it comes to spreading innuendo!
The Maoists have officially stated that they had nothing to do with the incident to BBC and other reporters. There are now reports that the government has toned down its mischievous rhetoric and has stated that “Maoist involvement cannot be ruled out.” After the damage has been done, and abuse is proliferating the email bandwidth, some sobriety is slowly emerging, but only in back-door doses. This was a prime opportunity to “false flag” the incident into a Maoist carnage scorecard or tally sheet, which as Indian we love to read over and over and get spasmodic about. After all, this is “Maoist-infested” area. The vermin had declared a 48 hour bandh just a few days ago, is it not? And in the weeks before they had blown up the bus with a roof-load of uniformed Police Officers (a fact that until now was suppressed, that all on the roof were policemen, and the news about the civilians inside the bus was emphasized repeatedly). The civilian bus incident has done some damage to the Naxalite-Maoist image no doubt, but the real truth about the incident took a while to emerge and it is now also appearing that some of the civilians were also locals who had applied for SPO positions and were still in civvies. What other opportunity than this rail incident to nail the Maoists down?

Let’s cut to the chase with some questions:-

1) Does the state really think that the Maoists are intellectually so handicapped that they would blow up a train and kill civilians to further their revolutionary cause, especially after the extraordinary media savvy-ness they have displayed lately? Because if that is their estimation of the Maoists’ intelligence, the cause of the Indian state is already doomed.

2) Does the media and the government really believe that the Maoist squads will engage in terrorism against innocent civilians to get public support? Is it not true that self-appointed Indian experts of counter-insurgency strategy have repeatedly declared that the Maoists are no longer a rag-tag band of roving rebels, but a highly disciplined and technically somewhat advanced formation?

3) Does the media question why the train was travelling at break neck speed at night, whereas instructions have been repeatedly issued to go slow through “insurgent” territory, especially right after a Bandh?

4) Does the media understand that the PCAPA operates openly and with down to earth simplicity (please read their last two letters to the APDR—they read like a hundred year old passage from the time of the Santhal revolts), with published addresses and telephone numbers (even though they are understandably “underground” since their last President was assassinated in front of his family and the matter is practically forgotten by Mr. Perfidy himself –PCC)? Why would they carry out such an attack, since their only demands are stemming strictly from a tribal sense of justice? Has everyone forgotten their original demand that the Police hold their ears and apologize in Lalgarh for what they did—that was all that they wanted?

5) Does the media understand that fishplates have been removed before during a rail-roko and openly so, and announced to the media to ensure that a bandh is maintained? That after such a bandh, the rail authorities must recheck the lines as is always and routinely done in all countries of the world?

6) Does the media ever ask the question, that in a typical Indian rural (or even semi –urban setting) there are hordes of fringe elements, looters, free-lancers, half politicized riff-raff who indulge in lumpenism that borders on luddite outrage?

7) Why don’t the media ask the Maoist leaders (with whom they are having constant conversations) why they are unable to control ALL the people in their “territories”” of control? That would be a test of their mass organizational skills, would n’t that?

8) Does the media ever ask, whether there could actually be a foreign hand? I mean, like there was a foreign hand in blowing up the Air India Kashmir Princess during the days of the Bandung Conference in 1955? Do the swashbuckling Indian journalist starlets know that a Kuomintang deployed engineering technician team serviced the plane in Hong Kong and when this team was tracked down, the CIA flew them over to Formosa and they disappeared forever from the scene? Intrigue can be pretty sophisticated in India these days.

What is it that makes Indian journalists/reporters rush to judgement, arrive at hasty conclusions and choose terminology that is already prejudiced about the outcome? The answer is simple--because laziness, irresponsibility and tabloidism is encouraged in Indian media.

Why do newscasters emphasize words like “massacre, terror, murder, barbarity, gruesome attack, sabotage, carnage, death cult, inhuman terror, ” in describing suspected Maoist attacks, whereas massive evidence of police attacks, rampage through village communities, “encounter” killings, acts of mass rape, forced displacement by Selwa Judum and SPOs, burning of peasant and tribal huts and homes of minorities, cutting of breasts of 80 year old women and fingers of two year old children not reported as genocidal, maniacal, psychotic? Why is it not reported that already since Operation Green Hunt over 200 civilians have been killed by government forces and promptly declared as Maoists? Why do reporters not follow the nearly clichéd approach of innocent until proven guilty? Why do Indian journalists not display an iota of investigative acumen when they start blabbing about an incident? Why don’t they take some time out and go back to educating themselves on the basic principles of reporting the facts and not hearsay, repeating police officer and IAS chatter instead of what aloof bystanders have to say? Why do they parrot those who talk the most, and are ready with press conferences as soon as an incident is reported, instead of talking to those who shy away from the camera and avoid the public gaze?

The answer is very simple. Indian journalism has so far resided in a nebulous comfort zone of non-democracy and pre-capitalist formation, despite all the hardware and verbiage that they have mastered so well. Whereas litigiousness is a product of advanced capitalism, where the sue-r wants to make sure that the sue-d has the bank balance that can be extracted, in a pre-capitalist society there is no such concern; irresponsibility, chicanery, grandstanding, stagecraft and sensation- mongering passes off as “journalism.” Collating data from others and rushing out reportage to make the editor’s need to make it to the wire before others is a prime consideration. News syndicates are constantly dishing out hearsay as news.

Indian journalism is not an upholder of genuine democracy in the thought processes. Because the democratic process, itself, is not understood. Root cause analysis of incidents is not initiated. In fact the removed fish plate is not the end of the investigation. How was it removed? Who in the village has the wrenches and spanners to remove the parts? Were any loose parts found nearby? Do the railways have special tools to unbolt and re-bolt the fishplates? Has a search been conducted of the missing fish plates? Meanwhile, one hundred civilians have perished and manipulative propaganda is being carried out for political reasons?

As we write this article, word is coming out that the “convincing” evidence of North Korea torpedoing the South Korean Naval vessel, in which over 40 sailors died, is not that convincing anymore. Reports have appeared in Japan, in China, in Australia that the explosive traces found on the sunken vessel indicate evidence of very advanced magnet-guided rising-type submerged mining technology. That a team of US divers were exercising with the same type of mines in the same area in joint exercises with the South Korean Navy, some weeks before. That this particular relatively secluded seaway has never seen North Korean incursions. That the North Koreans do not possess such weaponry. That North Koreans, despite their frequent hot and cold and belligerent behaviour, could not have carried out the attack.

The question that one must ask is who would benefit the most, at this time from such a rail accident? Which party, which government, which organization? Who has already demonstrated the ability in India to stage false flag incidents to blame “foreign” and minority communities? The Naxalites, by the way, own up to what they do.

Meanwhile, two persons have repeatedly shown abject inability to conduct their portfolios with a minimum degree of finesse. Mamata Banerjee and PC Chidambaram. Why is the media not asking for their resignation? In any other democratic country, these two would have been history, by now.
29 May, 2010
Countercurrents.org
The real character of the MEDIA(?) of the WORLD'S BIGGEST DEMOCRACY.:lol:
Left-communist comrades, kindly read and make your comments.

[pranabjyoti]

Both the CPI (Maoist) and PCAPA have denied their involvement in the Friday train derailment (http://www.icawpi.org/en/peoples-resistance/statements/467-both-the-cpi-maoist-and-pcapa-have-denied-their-involvement-in-the-friday-train-derailment)

by G. N. Saibaba
Yesterday's( 28 May 2010) Gnaneshwari Express and a goods train tragedy near Kharagpur in West Bengal in which 80 people were killed and 200 injured was attributed to CPI(Maoist) and Peoples Committee Against Police Atrocities (PCAPA) by the media. The media unscrupulously played false news stories blaming CPI (Maoist) and Peoples Committee for two days. Some political parties like Trinomial Congress and the ruling CPI(Marxist) also blamed these organisations without any verification. Significantly Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram has declined to attribute the blame on the CPI (Maoist) and also announced that there was no evidence of any bomb blast in the incident.
The Union Home Minister has ordered an enquiry to find out any possibility of sabotage. During the day the leaders of CPI (Maoist) clarified through a long statement that they were not responsible for the train tragedy and condemned any possible sabotage work if any force involved behind the incident. They have also expressed their condolences for the families of deceased. The PCAPA also clarified that their activists are not involved in this incident. They suspected the ruling CPI(Marxist) to have been involved in the sabotage desperately trying to tilt the public opinion against the fighting forces.
Purposefully the media did not cover the statement issued by the CPI (Maoist) while playing the false stories and commentaries blaming the CPI (Maoist) for the incident.
Some all India newspapers like The Hindu wrote editorials blaming the CPI (Maoist) for the incident. Many other newspapers wrote major articles decrying the CPI (Maoist) as terrorist attributing the blame on them. Now when the clarifications come from CPI (Maoist) and PCAPA, will these media houses withdraw their false stories and give the facts to the people? Will they regret for propagating the false news?
These two days of false propaganda is made with a malicious intension of maligning the CPI (Maoist) and PCAPA.
I attach here news reports covering the statement of clarification from the CPI (Maoist) and PCAPA by a section of newspapers in West Bengal. The same newspaper didn't cover it in their editions coming from all other cities.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Statement on Train(Jnaneswari Express) accident by the Maoists The following report was published in the Bengali Ananda Bazar Patrike dt. 29 May 2010, page 7, Kolkata edition. It bore the caption 'Denying allegations about their involvement, the Maoists demand enquiry' and written by Prasun Acharyya. The statement was issued in the name of Aakash, the Maoist WB State Committee leader.
On Friday night, the following statement was issued on behalf of the CPI(Maoist) WB State Committee. "We are in no way involved in this incident. We did not carry out any explosion in the railway line. Killing innocent people by sabotaging railway line is not our agenda. When we carry out any action, there are always some specific reasons behind. We also acknowledge responsibility for that. Whenever we commit mistakes we admit it. However, responsibility is being placed on us now for an incident in which we are in no way involved". Accusing the CPI(Marxist) of putting blame on them the Maoists said "The CPI(M) is haunted by the prospect of a landslide defeat in the coming municipal elections. Thus they have opted for a strategy of killing two birds with a single stone. On the one hand, attempts are being made to brand us as terrorists and thus isolate us from the people. On the other hand, they are seeking to prove that Mamata Banerjee is completely misfit as the railway minister". The Maoists did not directly state that the CPI(M) was involved in the incident. But what they said is: "In the coming days also such unfortunate incidents can take place in order to malign Mamata and the Maoists". The WB State Committee of the Maoists strongly condemned this act and stated: "This act deserves unequivocal condemnation. We are extending our sympathies to the members of the bereaved families. We also wish the speedy recovery of those who are injured".

Meanwhile, the People's Committee Against Police Atrocities has accused the CPI(M) of being involved in it. In reply to a query, the Maoists said: "We are not accountable for whatever one might say. We are not saying that the CPI(M) was involved in it. Let the railways make enquiry. The members of our party have made investigation after the incident. It was the removal of fish plates that led to the accident. There was no line for one metre stretch, side-clips were open. That led to derailment. Let the railways enquiry why side clips were open at the junction points of rail lines. No explosion took place at the site. Had there been any explosion, stones would have broken up and thrown out. But nothing like it happened".

The Maoists said that whenever any untoward incident takes place along the railway route, the tendency is always to accuse them for such incidents. "Three days back, eleven bogies of the New Delhi -Gwahati Rajdhani Express were derailed near Naogachhia Station in Bihar. It was not a major accident. However, initially the blame was put on us. Later on, it was found that it was the fault of the railways that led to such a mishap".

Even though the Maoists claim not to have directed any attack on the innocent people, why did they carry put land mine explosion in a passenger bus at Dantewada? The statement reads follows: "Special Pollce Officers(SPOs) and the CRPF were travelling in that bus. We have told people in Chhattisgarh time and again not to travel in the same bus along with the police and CRPF personnel. But it was the state government which had forced the common people to travel along with the police in the same bus. That is why common people also died along with the police".

The Maoists accepted responsibility for the Dantewada incident; but not for this mishap. "We are not involved in the Sardiha incident, so we take no responsibility of it", the Maoist statement said.

The Hindustan Times dt. 29 May 2010 carried only a brief statement from the Maoists: "Killing innocent civilians is not on our agenda. We have no links with this tragic incident, and we sympathise with the families of the deceased and the injured". Akash, Member, CPI(Maoist) State Committee, West Bengal.


'Not We, CPI(M) is to blame'

Both the CPI(Maoist) and PCAPA have denied their involvement in the Friday train derailment of the Maharashtra-bound Gyaneshwar Express, and condemned it as an act of criminal conspiracy on part of the ruling CPI(M), as reported by the Bengali daily Sangbad Pratidin, 29 May).
The statement by CPI(Maoist) state committee secretary, Kanchan, says, "This incident is against the line practised by our Party. We are not involved in it. CPI(M) and Police have jointly conspired to effect it."
Confirming it, Com Khokan representing the State Committee leader Akash of CPI(Maoist) said, "We are not at all involved in this incident. We do not kill innocent people. Fearing losing its rule, this is a ploy by CPI(M) to kill two birds with one stone. To paint the Maoists as terrorists and to declare the Railway minister, Mamata Banerjee as incapable. Even before this when the Rajdhani met with an accident, the State government pointed the finger on us. Our State Committee fully condemns this act. We share the pain with the families of the deceased and stand by them in this hour of grief."
The PCAPA has also denied its involvement with the incident, and declared it as an act of sabotage by the ruling CPI(M). Its leader, Asit Mahato said, "We are not involved with this incident. CPI(M) is directly involved in it, and writing posters in our name and planting the same on the site, is trying to put the blame on us."
Meanwhile the student union, USDF, leader Soumya Mandal also said, "Whether this incident is a handiwork of the CPI(M) or the Maoists, we completely condemn it. We offer our condolences to the families of the deceased and demand a comprehensive inquiry into the incident."Some more fact about FREE:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol: Indian press and media. DO YOU RELY ON THEM?:confused:

[t.shonku]

First let me explain all the members why I was off line for so long,actually I was facing a medical condition,but I was compelled to come back bcoz some fake communists are trying to frame the Maoists in a incident in which they are not involved.


The Maoist’s were not responsible for the derailment,they are being framed for it,let me explain to you why I think so.

1.This type of unnecessary civilian deaths only will give the Maoist’s negative publicity which they don’t want.Frankly speaking this type of incident is not in their interest.Have you people seen the movie called “The Quite American” I suggest you see it,this movie will give you an idea about how the CIA tried to frame the Vietcong for atrocities they didn’t commit.

2.In the flip side,this type of incidents benefits CPI(Marxist) and govt bcoz,this incident will give CPI(Marxist) the leverage in future election (watch the timing of the incident just a few days before Kolkata civic polls).In case you people didn’t knew this,a few weeks before this train mishap,in Darjeeling a popular Gurkha leader was killed which led to destruction of the Gurkha movement there,I personally think the CPI(Marxist) was behind it they did it to break up gurkha movement.THE INCIDENT IN DARJEELING WAS A DRESS REHERSAL FOR WEST MEDNAPORE INCIDENT.I think the CPI(Marxist) hoped to use this incident to break up the tribal movement in Lalgarh in a similar fashion like that in Darjeeling.

3.Just after this incident the CPI(Marxist) leaders shouted in parliament in favour of using air power against the Maoist’s .This made me remember of the Manchurian incident where the Japs themselves blew up the rail track and blamed it on chinese and used this excuse to attack china.I THINK HISTORY IS REPEATING ITSELF.

[scarletghoul]

3.Just after this incident the CPI(Marxist) leaders shouted in parliament in favour of using air power against the Maoist’s .
Yeah, a CPI(M) guy i was talking to just after it happened was getting completely histerical and saying they should use air strikes and destroy the Maoists (presumably the whole tribal communities that support them too). Most Indians are still against the idea of air strikes; this is because they know that air strikes obviously have a huge civilian casualty, they target the population in general. And most Indians still view the tribals as fellow Indians. However this campaign by the CPI(M) seems designed to permit air strikes, to view the tribal peoples as completely alien and foreign, to demonise the whole communities and let the ongoing borderline genocide to go into full bloom.


This made me remember of the Manchurian incident where the Japs themselves blew up the rail track and blamed it on chinese and used this excuse to attack china.And the Reichstag fire, and the little-known "Polish invasion" of Germany (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gleiwitz_incident), and the sinking of the Cheonan ship in Korea, and countless other incidents.

[pranabjyoti]

Yeah, a CPI(M) guy i was talking to just after it happened was getting completely histerical and saying they should use air strikes and destroy the Maoists (presumably the whole tribal communities that support them too). Most Indians are still against the idea of air strikes; this is because they know that air strikes obviously have a huge civilian casualty, they target the population in general. And most Indians still view the tribals as fellow Indians. However this campaign by the CPI(M) seems designed to permit air strikes, to view the tribal peoples as completely alien and foreign, to demonise the whole communities and let the ongoing borderline genocide to go into full bloom.

And the Reichstag fire, and the little-known "Polish invasion" of Germany (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gleiwitz_incident), and the sinking of the Cheonan ship in Korea, and countless other incidents.
Some corrections. Most Indians are either tribal people or lower caste, basically the same. Most first world citizens know India by city dwelling people BUT THE REAL INDIA IS TRIBAL AND LOWER CASTE PEOPLE, THE BASE OF MAOISTS. Therefore, most Indians don't need to support the tribal people, THEY ARE TRIBAL AND LOWER CASTE PEOPLE THEMSELVES.

[t.shonku]

Yeah, a CPI(M) guy i was talking to just after it happened was getting completely histerical and saying they should use air strikes and destroy the Maoists (presumably the whole tribal communities that support them too). This shows the true color of the CPI(Marxist),they don't care about life and well being of the tribals ,this just shows how racist the CPI(Marxist) are.

The only one who will get destroyed is CPI(Marxist), no poor people believes in them.Besides no body has ever been successful in destroying an entire community,the Japs tried to destroy the Chinese in 1930s but the Japs are the one who lost.

[Ocean Seal]

I read the title and asked what's new?

[pranabjyoti]

Why the Maoists cannot be accused of being involved in the Gyaneswari Express incident? (http://www.icawpi.org/en/analysis/opinion/483-why-the-maoists-cannot-be-accused-of-being-involved-in-the-gyaneswari-express-incident)


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by Amit Bhattacharyya In the early hours of 28 May 2010, a goods train rammed 13 derailed coaches of the 2012 UP Howrah-Kurla Gnyaneswari Express between the Khemshuli and Sardiha stations in West Bengal, killing more than 150 people and injuring many others as reports last came in. The incident occurred around 1.30 a.m. when most of the passengers were fast asleep. Immediately after the incident, the West Bengal DGP, Bhupinder Singh lost no time in blaming the Maoists for the disaster stating that the rebels had removed pandrol clips and fish plates from both up and down tracks leading to the accident. Mamata Banerjee, the Railway Minister, initially blamed the Maoists for an explosion on the track; later, however, she retracted and held that some political conspiracy was being hatched by the CPI(M) to malign her, her party and the railways department in order gain political mileage to stem inevitable defeat in the coming municipal elections. Large sections of the media (Print and TV) have come all out against the Maoists and started publishing reports, editorials and articles almost every day. A section of the civil rights groups have also, without making any enquiry, have accused the Maoists of indulging in such 'terrorist' acts. What is particularly disturbing is that most of these reports appear to be blatantly biased and have not taken into cognizance the statement of denial of their involvement in the incident issued by the Maoists themselves. Something like the mediaeval Europe type of witch-hunting has started with actors calling upon the central government to engage as many forces as possible to deal with this Maoist 'virus' and rejected any proposal for dialogue with them.
Significantly, Mr.Chidambaram has so far been maintaining a non-committal stance by describing the event simply as an act of 'sabotage', without apportioning blame on anyone. As an independent observer, what I feel is that in this vicious climate of 'terror' when all dissident voices are being threatened with persecution by making a mockery of democracy in this 'land of the largest democracy' in the world and where in the name of 'Operation Green-hunt' one of the most unjust, violent and brutal war is being waged against the people of our country, it is the truth that has become the worst victim. Here, I will try to argue why the Maoists cannot be legitimately accused of being involved in this inhuman man-made tragedy. In fact, whether one likes it or not, whatever circumstantial evidence we have till now points to a different direction.

Were jawans travelling by that train?

If one goes through the track record of attacks by the Maoists, it becomes apparent that they have always intended to attack those whom they regard as a major threat to them - security forces, intelligence officers, landlords, political leaders, police informers and others tied up in one way or the other with what they regard as the present repressive state apparatus. This train was a passenger train without having any special contingent of security forces on board, as far as one could gather.

The Maoists have denied their involvement in the incident

In a statement issued by Aakash, a member of the WB State Committee of the CPI (Maoist), whiich was published in one section of the Kolkata media, the Maoists have denied their involvement in the incident and also demanded an independent enquiry. This statement is not unknown to the media; still sections of the media have not carried it at all or simply gave it such a small space in their report as if there was no such statement at all. One may argue that such denial is of hardly any value because the devils often indulge in such 'false' statements in order to conceal their 'crimes'. However, if one goes through the history of their armed activities, one will see that the Maoists seldom told lies; whenever they carried out any military action, they accepted responsibility; whenever there were civilian casualties as a result of some mine blast or ambush either because of mistaken identity or unavoidable reasons, they tendered apology. I do agree that all lives are precious and civilian deaths due to armed attacks should always be avoided and criticized. But even then speaking the truth betrays an honesty of purpose on their part, which, even if it comes from the 'devil' should be appreciated. The mainstream media, by ignoring the Maoist voice have cast off their neutrality and exposed their own prejudice and bias unbecoming of their own profession. This is most unfortunate.

Who stand to gain and who stand to lose?


This incident, as is quite clear, is man-made; it is not an accident and the arrival of the goods train that actually did the most damage, was supposed to come in another line. The Maoists do not stand to gain from it. They stand to lose very much. The incident took place at a time when the municipal elections in West Bengal are just round the corner and the CPI(Marxist) is threatened with the prospect of landslide defeat that is being considered by many observers as the dress rehearsal for the 2011 legislative assembly elections. Such an event could isolate the Maoists from the people and at the same time also discredit Mamata Banerjee, the railway minister, which can also weaken her chance to gain victory in the 2011 elections. Why should the Maoists indulge in such things when they stand to lose and lose very dearly?

The incident took place in a CPI(Marxist) dominated area

By degrees, many new facts are coming to light. The incident took place in an area which is virtually under the control of the CPI(Marxist), and not under the Maoists. The incident took place at Rajbandh that stands between Khemashuli and Sardiha stations. If one makes a circle around the zone keeping a radius of 3 kilometres, then villages such as Manikpara, Daldali, Barjar, Ghaghrashole, Burimol, Lalitashole, Putushol, Bhangabandh, Bahargora, Chhnanapara, Jhatibandh, Aakhrashole, Jaipur, Sardiha, Aamdila, Borchati, Kharda, Burishole, Dhudhkundi, Rajbandh, etc would come within it. Except Rajbandh where the incident took place, all other villages are controlled by the CPI(Marxist). As is reported in one Bengali newspaper (Ekdin 30 May 2010), at that very night just after the incident, about ten persons were seen to have been looking at the rail line with torches and talking among themselves. This has been corroborated by some injured passengers as also some common villagers. Suddenly they vanished and went towards Manikpara. Manikpara is now a CPM stronghold and a den of armed hermads. It was also reported that a meeting took place in the night of 26 May in the house of Arjun Mahato, a CPI(Marxist) leader at Putushole where Anuj Pandey-the CPM leader of Lalgarh zonal committee(whose palatial building was broken down by the people) was also present. In fact, the local people of Sardiha totally discard the theory of Maoist involvement in the incident. They point their fingers at other directions. Asit Mahato has blamed the CPM. Even a section of the intelligence people, according to the report, claim that it was done by the CPM in order to malign the People's Committee Against Police Atrocities.

What is also quite remarkable is the appearance of CPM minister Sushanto Ghosh(who had earned much notoriety because of his role in Garbeta, Keshpur, Nandigram and Lalgarh) along with Rabilal Maitro and other ministers as also party members at the spot in the early hours of 28 May 2010 followed by the chief minister himself. This has also aroused suspicion among the local people. Such hectic activity on the part of the powers-that-be was never seen before anywhere else.

The accusation against the Maoists was based solely on the report given by Bhupinder Singh, the Director-General of Police, WB. This fellow can never be trusted; he can go to any length to manipulate the media for reasons best known to him. It was this fellow who had concocted the cock-and-bull story of Chhatardhar Mahato owning palatial house in Mayurbhanj, having a life insurance policy amounting to more than Rs. 1 crore, etc; he did all these in the past just to malign the heroic movement of the people of Lalgarh. Now when on 28 May the Maoists came out with their statement of denial, the next day the media were fed by another story by the same DGP that some Maoist faction bearing such and such names has sabotaged the tracks. It is for the readers to judge whether these arguments are acceptable to them or not.

I write as an independent observer who has been studying the Maoist movement from a distance. These Communist revolutionaries have been waging a war for more than four decades since 1967 and have raised certain important questions which need to be earnestly addressed and discussed without any precondition. Whatever the powers-that-be might think, witch-hunting, intimidation and state-sponsored brutality will take us nowhere. One should not make the truth the victim.

Amit Bhattacharyya is a professor of History at Jadavpur University
He can be reached at [email protected]
A logical analysis of the incidents.

[Lulznet]

I suspect that it wasn't the Maoists that did this but the Government that did. The reason for them to this is obvious, its due to the fact that CPI is coming back into prominance and is challenging the ruling party.

[S.Artesian]

This shows the true color of the CPI(Marxist),they don't care about life and well being of the tribals ,this just shows how racist the CPI(Marxist) are.

The only one who will get destroyed is CPI(Marxist), no poor people believes in them.Besides no body has ever been successful in destroying an entire community,the Japs tried to destroy the Chinese in 1930s but the Japs are the one who lost.

Love the use of language-- calling the CPI[Marxist] racist while referring to the Japanese militarist-corporate bourgeoisie as the "Japs." Priceless.

[Saorsa]

Is the word 'yanks' now racist as well?

Japs isn't necessarily a racist word at all. It's an abbreviation.

[Devrim]

Japs isn't necessarily a racist word at all. It's an abbreviation.

So is the word 'Pakis'. It is, however, in England, a completely racist term. I would say that 'Japs' in the English speaking world has quite nasty racist undertones at the very least.

Devrim

[pranabjyoti]

So is the word 'Pakis'. It is, however, in England, a completely racist term. I would say that 'Japs' in the English speaking world has quite nasty racist undertones at the very least.

Devrim
Well, maybe the word "Jap" is racist for Europeans, but certainly not for Asians. Japanese soldiers during WWII has done countless atrocities in places of Asia where they have put their feet.

[S.Artesian]

Well, maybe the word "Jap" is racist for Europeans, but certainly not for Asians. Japanese soldiers during WWII has done countless atrocities in places of Asia where they have put their feet.

This is hilarious. "'Jap' is... certainly not [racist] for Asians." Followed immediately by "Japanese soldiers during WWII has done countless atrocities in places of Asia where they have put their feet."

Thereby proving that the term "Jap" is used to generalize from a specific social period-- Japanese capitalism's military competition with other capitalisms for subjugating and exploiting less developed areas-- to an entire population, regardless of historical eras.


That's kind of, sort of, one of, the definitions of racism; and it is definitely one of the uses of racism.

[t.shonku]

Recently some peoples here have been accusing me of being racist for calling Japanese “Japs” well I have some questions for them.During WW2 the US soldiers called the Germans “Kraut” does that make the US soldiers being “racist” towards Germans?As far as I know both Germans and the Americans are of same race they are all Caucasian, moreover many Americans adored and respected Germans,peples like Patton,Ford etc.The US even took German assistance in building Rockets.The US soldiers during WW2 called the Thompson Sub Machine Gun “Tommy Gun” its just a nickname we give.Don’t make a big deal out of it.
Moreover I myself am of Asian origin why the hell would I be racist towards Japanese.I simply don’t like their imperialism.Besides the Japanese have done countless atrocities in Asia.Click the link below.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_atrocities

And as far as question of CPI(Marxist) goes they have killed,raped,tortured countless Dalits and Muslim minorities in Bengal’s Nandigram.They have killed countless Christians minorities in Kerala.And now they are killing and raping countless tribals in Lalgarh.Did you know that they systematically caused food shortage in tribal areas of West Midnapore in 2002 the tribals there were forced to eat leaves of trees to survive.

[t.shonku]

Besides this thread is discussion about situation in India.Don't drift away from topic

[Devrim]

Recently some peoples here have been accusing me of being racist for calling Japanese “Japs” ...

I don't think that anybody 'accused you of being racist'. They merely pointed out that in English the phrase generally carries racist overtones. There is a difference.

Devrim