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Cadres unleash violence
TRINAMUL-led opposition meets governor, demands central intervention
Statesman News Service
KOLKATA, Nov 6: In a chilling re-run of the 14th March bloody backlash, three persons were killed, several others, including an Eastern Frontier Rifles personnel, injured at Nandigram and nine villages set ablaze during a pitched battle between CPI-M cadres and BUPC activists that continued for over 18 hours since late last night. The Trinamul Congress-led Opposition met the Governor, Mr Gopalkrishna Gandhi, in the evening demanding invocation of Article 355. The Prime Minister was also informed of the escalation of violence.
At least 15,000 people were hounded out of their homes and many of them had to be given shelter at relief camps set up at Nandigram college.
Amid conflicting reports about the genesis of the fresh cycle of violence, an unconfirmed report suggested there was a mine explosion at Sonachura. The home secretary, Mr Prasad Roy, said “if there was truth in the report, it was indeed a serious matter.”
Mr Roy admitted that firing started from Khejuri, a clear admission that CPI-M cadres unleashed the violence. Mr Shyamal Chakraborty, CPI-M state committee member, however, claimed the provocation had come from the BUPC.
Trinamul Congress chief Miss Mamata Banerjee said the day’s violence made the state a “fit case” for invoking provisions of Article 355 as members of the minorities and Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe, who form a majority at Nandigram were no longer safe under the Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee regime.
The Speaker of the West Bengal Assembly, Mr HA Halim, said Maoists had taken control of Nandigram and the Opposition had failed to realise it.
The violence started at villages bordering Nandigram and Khejuri around 10 last night. Local CPI-M leaders claimed armed BUPC cadres had abducted two of their party activists. This apparently triggered the flare-up with marauding, armed CPI-M cadres tried to force their way into Nandigram setting at least nine villages on fire and driving nearly 15,000 people out of their homes.
A bloody battle ensued following resistance from BUPC supporters, resulting in the deaths of three persons and leaving scores injured.
Among the killed was a BUPC activist who was hit by a bullet on the head and two CPI-M activists Tushar Shau (30) and Nirapada Ghata (32) who succumbed to bomb injuries at Khejuri.
The firing and bombing started late last night and continued throughout the day. CPI-M men reportedly tried to enter Nandigram from Sonachura, Garhchakraberia, Satengabari, Tekhali, Bhangabera and Ranichak. Hundreds of rounds were fired during the gun battle, according to information.
Armed CPI-M cadres initially entered Satengabari, Ranichak, Bhangabera and Sonachura firing salvos at supporters of BUPC taking up positions for resistance.
Later in the day, they entered, Simulkundu, Kanungochak, Satengabari, Uttarpurbapally, Girirbazar, Brindabanchak and Akandabari and set houses on fire in a desperate bid to recapture these places from their rivals. Two BUPC supporters Mr Khokan Shit (30) and Mr Manas Das (32) were injured.
The CPI-M cadres were forced to retreat after BPUC supporters put up a strong resistance. On their way back to Khejuri, CPI-M cadres allegedly looted 10 houses of BPUC supporters and set them on fire. An EFR Nayek, Mr Pradip Tamang, who was on duty near the Tekhali Bridge sustained injury after a bullet fired from Khejuri hit him, said a senior district police officer. Mr Tamang was first taken to Nandigram hospital from where he was rushed to Tamluk district hospital, according to Mr Satya Shankar Panda, superintendent of police, Midnapore (East).
The police said at least 300 bullets were fired and more than 500 crude bombs hurled during the clash.
Among the injured the condition of a BUPC supporter, Mr Kalipada Sit, is said to be critical. Local CPI-M leaders said, at least seven of their supporters were injured in the Trinamul-sponsored attack.
That the state administration virtually abdicated its responsibility became clear when the IG (law and order) Mr Raj Kanojia said : “I cannot say from which direction the bullet which hit Tamang came”. This was in sharp contrast to the home secretary’s admission that the firing was from the CPI-M-dominated Khejuri.
On the other hand, the state home secretary said the CPI-M had “probably gained ground” at Nandigram after the day’s violence.
While describing the situation at Nandigram to be “quite worse” Mr Ray said that according to unconfirmed reports some people had crossed Bhangaberia to enter Sonachura.
Asked whether the police were unable to enter areas where the CPI-M had regained control, the home secretary admitted there had been virtually no police presence in the areas like Gokulnagar, Ranichak, Bhangaberia and Satengabari which turned into a “war zone” witnessing “widespread violence” today.
Police contingents couldn’t move into some areas of Nandigram lest it should aggravate the situation, Mr Kanojia said. None was arrested for the violence. . There is strong Maoist presence in Nandigram, he added.
The home secretary admitted that the peace process had come to a “halt” and all the discussion initiated in the past three or four months “for a peaceful end to the dispute has gone down the drain.”
The state government has not received any information about the arrival of Central forces it has requisitioned for deployment at Nandigram. “ We are waiting for the CRPF to come.
Meanwhile, Mr D Bandopadhyay, former Union revenue secretary, told the Governor that he and some other retired IAS officers were preparing charge-sheets against district magistrates of Hooghly and East Midnapore
and all those police personnel who were responsible for mass killing and mass rape and incidents of arson and looting at Nandigram and Singur since 25 September last year.
Mr Bandyopadhyay, who was a member of the delegation led by Miss Mamata Banerjee, called on the Governor to apprise him of the worsening situation at Nandigram. He said they were collecting details of the acts of omission and commission of the guilty officers involved in the horrendous crime committed at the two places.
Each of these officers would be separately served charge-sheets and proceeded against through legal means. Mr Bandyopadhyay urged the Governor to tell the Centre to depoliticise the officers of all-India services (West Bengal cadre), because of their highly partisan behaviour during Nandigram and Singur operations.
He said that popular perception about the role of these officers was so bad that the credibility of this all-India cadre had suffered badly.
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