John - when you don't know don't guess. The people were not killed by police, but by the CPM goons - who fired from behing the police on the peaceful congregation. The CPM goons also raped at least 17 women - many of whom are 11 - 15 years' old. Some of those goons have later on been captured by the villagers and handed over to police. Today's Statesman edition reports that one such CPM activist, Sahadev Pramanik have confessed to raping a 13 year old girl and a housewife on 14th march. Yesterday it reported that a mother witnessed that behind the police-line CPM activists molested and took away her 11 year girl, who is still missing. Today's Anandabazar reports that a woman has reported to NCW that she was raped by CPM goons until her son was able to come and rescue her.
In WB CPM activists have gone beyond the control of the leaders - it is a CPM frankenstein now which works alongside the police.
