N. Bengal exodus due to red brigade terror
By MANOJ ANAND
Guwahati, May 22: More than 300 non-Communist party workers and Congress candidate of panchayat from North Bengal’s Toofanganj area are taking shelter in Western Assam’s Dhubri district following the terror of red brigade in the area.
Confirming this on Thursday, Dhubri district deputy commissioner Jatin Lahkar told this newspaper that these people have now started returning to their respective houses in North Bengal. "We had sent a magistrate in the area to ensure that no trouble is created in our area," he said, adding that these people were taking shelter for last few weeks. Most of these people have fled from Toofanganj block of New Coochbehar and taking shelter in schools and houses of distant relatives in Dhubri district’s Khairabari, Pukalagi and Dimakuchi area.
According to their confession to security agencies, red-flag waving motorcycle brigade, openly brandishing rifles and swords, revolvers and locally-made bombs were wreaking havoc in the area. All non-Communist workers and candidates were threatened to leave the area till the panchayat elections are over.
Prominent among those taking shelter in Assam were Congress candidate for Anchalik Panchayat Shalesh Sarkar and Nilkamal Das, who was candidate for the ward member. Security sources, referring to the confession of those taking shelter in Assam, said that one Dhananjay Rabha, a CPI(M) activist of Coochbehar area, was leading the terror group. The Dhubri district administration has taken special measure to ensure their safety inside Assam territory.
Those taking shelter in Assam said that during the village council polls that ended on Sunday, motorcycle brigades of CPI(M) activists created terror in the area and non-Communist voters were not allowed to come out even on polling day.