The battle within : The Statesman (5.05.08)

Statesman News Service
CHINSURAH, May 4: Support the “police atrocities” on farmers who have been opposing the alleged “forceful” acquisition of farmland in Singur or face consequences.
This seems to be the message the CPI-M wants to convey, even to its own supporters in Singur. CPI-M cadres allegedly destroyed field crops of two active members of DYFI ~ the CPI-M’s youth wing ~ who had opposed the atrocities.
Mr Tarun Majhi, a resident of Raghunathpur in Singur has told police officers that some of his party colleagues have destroyed vegetables in his farmland last Saturday night for refusing to take part in the poll campaign for the CPI-M.
“Majhi had decided not to support the CPI-M as he couldn’t accept the manner in which farmland was acquired for the Tata Motors small car factory. He earned the wrath of his party colleagues after he had raised objection to the police atrocities on farmers,” said a police officer.
“Majhi had informed me that his field crop was destroyed. We have inquired into the allegations. Those who destroyed field crops have been identified. We couldn’t arrest them because Majhi told the police verbally and no written complaint had been lodged,” said Mr Priyabrata Baxi, officer-in-charge of Singur police station.
Mr Gobindo Sanki, another DYFI activist hailing from Raghunathpur village in Singur, has met with the same fate for supporting the farmers spearheading a movement against “forceful land grab”. Some unidentified people, allegedly backed by local CPI-M leaders destroyed crops in his 25-cottah farmland on Sunday night for opposing the Singur “land grab”, Mr Becharam Manna, convener of the Singur Krishi Jomi Raksha Committee (SKJRC) alleged.
“CPI-M cadres destroyed field crops after Mr Sanki, had said openly that he wouldn’t attend the CPI-M rally. He had protested against the murder of Tapasi Malik,” Mr Manna said. Mr Baxi, said, Mr Sanki has not reported the incident.
Mr Manna alleged that CPI-M cadres had set a shop of a SKJRC supporter on fire at Dobandhi village near the small car project site on Wednesday night for the same reason. “No action has been taken against the accused CPI-M cadres despite a complaint being lodged with police,” he said.
Mr Balai Sanpui, CPI-M Hooghly district committee member said Opposition leaders had a malicious campaign against the CPI-M. “Both Majhi and Sanki are our supporters. The incidents are a fallout of a family feud.”