Upanshu Mahato,leader of Movement against pollution of Sponge Iron arrested in Jhargram

Upanshu Mahato,leader of Movement against pollution of Sponge Iron arrested in Jhargram and charged with sec 120 and 121 CrPC.

On 26 January 2010, police of West Midnapur arrested comrade Upansu Mahao. He was produced in court after 48 hours and charged with Sections 120 and 121 of CrPC.

Upansu Mahato is a member of Midnapur District Committee of CPI(ML) and was convenor of the Committee against pollution of sponge iron. There are three sponge iron plants near Lodhasuli on NH6 in Jhargram.

The pollution of these plants has destroyed the paddy fields, forests and water bodies in nearly 50 villages inhabited by the Adivasis and Mahatos. The people of the area have been agitating against this and demanding the closure of the plants. A case was filed in Calcutta High Court and the High Court ruled that the plants should be closed. But the state government refused to accept the ruling. The owner of all three plants is one Patwari who is a very powerful capitalist in the district and politicians and bureaucrats are ever ready to serve him.

Actually the combined forces of the central and state governments have let loose a reign on the people of the region in order to suppress all genuine mass-movements. The presence of the Maoists in the area has only given them an excuse to suppress the people( Democracy and Class Struggle does not agree with these comments about the Maoists by CPI ML but calls for release of Upanshu Mahato of CPI ML. We request friends and democrats all over the country to demand:

1. Close the Sponge Iron Factories
2. Withdraw the Joint Forces
3. Release Upansu Mahato and all other political prisoners.