Extortionist joined CM's party in West Bengal

Maoist crossover show on rally dais

PRONAB MONDAL12.11.11

Aghor in Balarampur on Friday. Picture by Sayantan Ghosh Balarampur (Purulia), Nov. 11: Mamata Banerjee today presented on her rally dais Aghor Hembram, a member of a Maoist-backed committee who switched to the Trinamul Congress after its Assembly election win. With Aghor by her side, the chief minister told the crowd in Purulia’s Balarampur: “Aghor used to visit villages and campaign for the Maoists. Now he is with us. The rebels threatened to kill him. Despite that, Aghor has shown the courage to join us.” Aghor is said to have joined Trinamul with 300 of his followers immediately after it came to power. He was the president of the Adibashi Mulbashi Janaganer Committee, a body similar to the Maoist-backed People’s Committee Against Police Atrocities. He campaigned for the rebels and extorted money from traders, a Maoist source said. Maoist leaders called Aghor a traitor. “Aghor betrayed us and the poor people. He left us and joined Trinamul to make money. He will have to pay for his betrayal,” a rebel source said. Aghor said he had severed ties with the committee because they were dictatorial. “They were using me and my followers. The committee’s activities were dictated by the Maoists. When I came to know about it, I decided to leave them,” he said. A Maoist leader had a different version to offer. “We take 70 per cent of the total amount collected from the traders. The remaining 30 per cent is given to the committee leaders to pay the members at the grassroots. Aghor was not paying the poor people. We warned him and he joined Trinamul,” the Maoist said. State intelligence branch sources confirmed Aghor developed a bitter relationship with the Maoists over the sharing of extortion money. “He joined the Trinamul to take advantage of being close to the ruling party and collect money freely,” an intelligence officer in Purulia said.