Maoists go crazy

Maoists launched a brutal assault on a zoo in West Midnapore’s Jhargram town on Saturday night, firing indiscriminately into deer and black buck enclosures, setting fire to animal cages, burning hundreds of birds and beating up the beat officer and forest guards. The toll is being assessed, but two black bucks are confirmed dead and hundreds of birds burnt to ashes. Forest department officials are now scrambling to save an elephant herd that is headed in the direction. The attack on the zoo, just 2 km from Jhargram, could be a strategic move because it connects the town with Jharkhand via Banstala and Manikpara. Once Maoists have access to it, they can easily reach Jharkhand. Jhargram is now surrounded by rebel strongholds. The attack, which took everyone by shock, is indicative of the lawlessness in Maoist-affected Jangalmahal. It was followed by the murder of two CPM leaders at Laudhiadham, just 6 km away, and two more at Sabardanga. They were all shot execution style, with a bullet to the back of the head. The mindless massacre of animals indicates that the Maoists and PCPA may not have control over elements within the organisation. The tribal upsurge is rapidly turning into an uncontrolled reign of terror in Jangalmahal. PCPA president Santosh Patra could not explain the attack on Jhargram Mini Zoo. He admitted that the mob which stormed into the sanctuary “was not under their control”. The zoo in West Midnapore, some 220 km from Kolkata, houses many endangered species, among them the gharial, sloth bear, and crocodiles. The only two black bucks were riddled with bullets and the carcasses taken away. A huge aquarium was smashed to bits. When reporters reached the zoo at 10 pm, just half an hour after the attack, a huge bonfire was raging in front of the gate. Several trees could be seen blazing inside. Charred foliage, burnt branches and heaps of concrete — remains of the boundary wall that was pulled down by the rebels — were strewn over a 300-metre area. Even 12 hours after the attack, wisps of smoke curled up from the ravaged cages. Bloodstains were seen on the floor of the small black buck enclosure. Bird carcasses are being pulled from the ash and cinder, say sources.