The ugly face of state power.

West Bengal became notorious for human rights violations in the 1970s. Repressive measures had been taken to stifle the voice of dissent. The Congress fared disastrously in the Lok Sabha elections held in March 1977 and in the assembly poll in July 1977. Civil liberties and human rights were inextricably linked with the elections of 1977. This was particularly true in West Bengal.As the issues of civil rights and state terrorism remained the main concerns in West Bengal, the Left Front in its election manifesto emphasised these issues in 1977. The Left Front guaranteed that, after coming to power, it would not take any step that would violate the democratic rights of the people. It was also stated that there would be virtually no use of the police force for suppressing people's movements. In every election campaign since 1977, the Left Front leaders used to remind the voters of state terrorism and consequent horrors of the 1970s. However, during the last 33 years, the Left Front under the CPI-M leadership has also been guilty of flagrant violation of the rights and liberties of the people. The refugees of Marichjhanpi, the farmers of Shantipur, the workers of Naihati, the Youth Congress members in front of Writers' Buildings, the agitating mob in Baguiati and the …