An Open Appeal to the Chief Minister of West Bengal

For several years the people of Jungle Mahal in West Bengal have been suffering persecution, humiliation and indignities at the hands of the state forces and armed bullies financed by the ruling parties. In the election campaigns made by you and your party, promises were made of the withdrawal of joint forces from the region, and you made the pledge to release all political prisoners unconditionally.

In your election manifesto, you also made the pledge to “suppress state terror” (p 39). However, to our surprise, we find that instead of suppressing state terror your police, the central joint forces and “Bhairab Bahinis” are only perpetuating it. To our dismay, we see that people are being detained illegally, women have been humiliated and a large number of the sons of the soil have been incarcerated. Civil rights activists, scholars and even physicians who went to Jungle Mahal for onthe-spot investigation and for treating patients voluntarily were arrested by your police forces. Your admini stration is not allowing public meetings organised by local organisations to take place, while your party is being allowed to do so. Democracy for the ruling party and autocracy towards all dissident voices! Is this democracy, Madam Chief Minister?