But the Trinamul Congress - BJP thugs did not stop at that. For six days continuously this vandalism continued. Villagers in Keoskhali Dalang, and Baduraina were attacked on March 21. Kuasol was the target next on March 22. Hindolbar village hd to face the wrath of the Trinamul Congress on March 23, Sirishbani on march 24, Sirishbani on March 24, and Bhagirtathbar on 25. A total of 200 houses were razed to the ground in these six days and property worth of rupees one crore were either looted or destroyed in fire. Maybe this was the expression of euphoria of Trinamul’s victory in three out of 15 gram panchayats in the Keshpur Block in the 28 May Panchayat elections last year. But those who opposed the trinamul-Bjp’s vandalism were attacked. Of course they made it a point to attack the CPI(M) workers.

From the pattern of attacks of the Trinamul Congress BJP rowdies it is clear that they were armed to the teeth. Firearms like guns were with them. Some carried choppers and spears. Information gathered in Syedbali indicates that the Vandals were recruited from the neighbouring Gram Panchayats 2,3 and 4. Since it was afternoon, most of male folks of the village were working in the fields being farm labour. The women were forced to flee the village. Those who refused were assaulted. Thus the entire village was emptied of its population. Thereafter started the loot and setting the houses of fire amidst diabolic shouts.

Worst of it was setting the village post office on fire by dousing it with petrol. The post offices has lost all records since 1978. Is not he post office with its records a property of the Central Government? Is not the Tinamul Congress a constituent of the BJP-led combine at the Centre?

At least 49 families of Syedbali villages have been rendered homeless. The village now is as quiet as it can be. No simmering fire from under the heaps of cinders was noticeable a week after the attack. Nor was smoke billowing from the thatched roofs. The villagers have literally lost all. Even heads of cattle had been driven off the village. They have not mustered courage enough to search for the domestic animals in neighbouring villages. Large coconut, and mango trees had to bear the brunt of the attack. The flames were high enough to touch heir branches and leaves. The villagers do not know if the fruit-trees in the villages will survive at all.

The villagers were reluctant to open their mouth before a journalist for fear of reprisal. But they are understood to have given a list of 150 persons that entered the village on the fateful day. The Trinamul Congress activists reportedly had more than 60 guns with them that day.

Meanwhile, the local Panchayat have offered them relief materials and clothes. But the Syedbali villagers do not know how long they will sleep under the open sky.

The Keshpur Block in Midnapore has become a target at attack of the Trinamul Congress - BJP vandals ever since the BJP-led combine assumed office in Delhi. On April 1, 1998, the Trinamul rowdies being aided by some notorious landlords of the block attacked the Keotpara office of the CPI(M) and started looting the houses nearby. The martyrs' column was razed to the go round. While leaving the village, they carried away eight cycles, furnitures etc. On the same day the CPI(M) local committee office at Nevadeul was vandalised by the hordes of the Trinamul Congress. This was the beginning of the vandalism perperated by the after Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee was sworn in as Prime Minister on March 19. Even before the last Panchayat elections in May 1998, the Trinamul leader Ms Mamata Banerjee accompanied by the present Defence Minister Mr. George Fernendes held meetings in various places in Keshpur where they exhorted people to annihilate the CPI(M).

Meanwhile Congress (I) workers swelled the Trinamul ranks leaving their party. During the past one year, the Trinamul Congress rowdies, have attacked villages in Keshpur block 87 time, set fire to 500 houses . Property worth millions of rupees have been destroyed.