Human rights activist Binayak Sen supports Bhangar movement
KOLKATA: Human rights activist Binayak Sen has supported Bhangar land movement. Sen, a key functionary of People's Union For Civil Liberties (PUCL) had visited Bhangar on February 26 and held a series of meetings with the villagers who had fought against so-called forcible land acquisition in Bengal's South 24-Parganas district and promised them to be with them in their future course of movement against land acquisition.
Sen, along with some representatives of the All India People's Forum, visited villages like Machibhanga, Khamaraeit, Padmapukur and Tona on Sunday and assured the villagers to be with them in their future movement against land acquisition. Sen also met the families of Alamgir Gazi and Mafizul Islam who lost their lives during Bhangar agitation.
Mamata's government has taken a strong exception to Bhangar agitation as it believes that some outsiders, specially Naxalite factions are instigating villagers to fight against her government. The police had also arrested CPI ML (Red Star) leader Sarmistha Chowdhury last month for her alleged involvement in Bhangar violence. Sarmistha had camped in some villages and had reportedly instigated the villagers to raise their voices against the state government.
Trinamool Congress insiders said that they were not very happy with Sen's Bhangar visit and his promise to the villagers. "Sen was arrested for sympathizing with the Naxalites in Chhatishgarh about ten years back. Many outsiders are still working secretly at Bhangar to foment violence. Our government is keeping close watch on the developments in theb area," said a senior Trinamool Congress leader and a minister, preferring anonymity.
Sen, along with some representatives of the All India People's Forum, visited villages like Machibhanga, Khamaraeit, Padmapukur and Tona on Sunday and assured the villagers to be with them in their future movement against land acquisition. Sen also met the families of Alamgir Gazi and Mafizul Islam who lost their lives during Bhangar agitation.
Mamata's government has taken a strong exception to Bhangar agitation as it believes that some outsiders, specially Naxalite factions are instigating villagers to fight against her government. The police had also arrested CPI ML (Red Star) leader Sarmistha Chowdhury last month for her alleged involvement in Bhangar violence. Sarmistha had camped in some villages and had reportedly instigated the villagers to raise their voices against the state government.
Trinamool Congress insiders said that they were not very happy with Sen's Bhangar visit and his promise to the villagers. "Sen was arrested for sympathizing with the Naxalites in Chhatishgarh about ten years back. Many outsiders are still working secretly at Bhangar to foment violence. Our government is keeping close watch on the developments in theb area," said a senior Trinamool Congress leader and a minister, preferring anonymity.
