May 29, 2016
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AIDWA Condemns Heinous Attacks in Bengal

THE All India Democratic Women’s Association, in a statement issued on May 23, has strongly condemned the heinous attacks unleashed by the winning Trinamul Congress activists on the women in West Bengal as part of the post-poll violence. Most of the AIDWA activists are attacked and hundreds had to flee from their residence in villages and cities. AIDWA leader Mukta had to leave her home in Hugli. ICDS worker Indrani Mukherjee was attacked in Bankura. Sukla Ghosh, another activist had to leave her residence in Chandrokona in Paschim Medinipur. TMC workers attacked homes of Malati Murmu, who is a panchayat pradhan and Mitali Mukherjee, panchayat upapradhan in Bardhaman. Anganwadi union members were asked to leave their unions. Elected legislator Jahanara Khan’s residence was also attacked. AIDWA candidate Namta Dipti Adhikary in Coochhbehar has been attacked. Piali Kazi, relative of the great poet Kazi Nazrul Islam was also not spared. Cycles were distributed to school going girls as part of the development schemes in the villages. Cycles were snatched from girls whose families voted against the TMC. Booths where the TMC was voted out are vandalised and voters threatened. Such is the jungle raj prevailing in the state. Severe attacks are being launched in Kolkata, North and South 24 Parganas, Howrah, Hugli, Bardhaman, Bankura and elsewhere. Many offices were forcibly occupied by the TMC. Bombs were thrown in many houses. In Ward No 33 of Beleghata, the house of AIDWA’s zonal committee member, Rakhi Sen Sarma was totally destroyed and set afire. Many women activists were injured. Lands of peasants are forcibly taken away in Alipurduar with crops being cut and stolen. Extortions and fines are continuing in Jalpaiguri. In Jadavpur assembly constituency, where the Left candidate won in all the wards, not only are the activists in the Left parties being beaten up or the CPI(M) Party offices being ransacked, but whole localities are being 'punished' with daily threats from bike-wielding goons. Water connections in the houses have been destroyed. Many old people are being attacked in their houses because someone in the house is known to be a Left activist. The police are not doing enough to protect such people. The chief minister herself is encouraging these vindictive activities. They have attacked the offices of Left parties together with AIDWA offices. They did not also spare offices of Congress and other opposition parties. They attacked, ransacked, set to fire the homes of Left party activists, attacking women and children. Children are also not spared this time in pre, during and post-poll violence in the state. They are continuing their attacks from Coochbihar in the north to Kakdwip in the south. The anti-socials are breaking the houses, destroying the valuable things of the citizens as well as the party. Many people including women were attacked and admitted in the hospitals. Even the police is attacked by them. Extortions and fines are continuing. AIDWA has demanded that such vandalism should be stopped immediately and people in the state who campaigned as well as voted against the TMC should be given all protection against anti-socials and lumpens unleashed by the rulers as part of their jubilation ceremony.