Nandigram again on boil; Three killed in fresh violence

Nandigram, Oct 8 (UNI) Fresh outbreak of clashes between the Trinamool Congress-supported Bhumi Uchhed Pratirodh Committee (BUPC) and the CPI(M) activists left at least three persons dead and five critically injured here in East Midnapur district during the past 24 hours.

Police said CPI(M) local committee member Manas Mondal was allegedly shot dead by the BUPC activists at Kalagachia near here today, while two persons lost their lives yesterday.

Three persons, who were injured in the gun battle today, had been admitted to different hospitals at Tamluk and Nandigram.

The CPI(M) had called a 12-hour bandh tomorrow at Khejuri to protest the killing.

Police said thousands of Trinamool supporters, mostly women, gheraoed Tamluk Additional Superintendent of Police Debashish Baral and Egra SDPO Biswajit Ghosh's office.

About 12 CPI(M) leaders had taken refuge at the Khejuri College and Khejuri Vidyapith with a massive police force patrolling the area.

Yesterday, one woman was killed in the gun battle, while another lost his life under tension due to the prolonged exchange of fire.

A 10-year-old boy of Gokulnagar village suffered bullet injuries and was shifted to SSKM Hospital, where his condition was stated to be critical. A CPI(M) supporter also received bullet injuries and had been admitted to Khejuri Hospital.

The CPI(M) observed a protest day today, condemning attack by the BUPC supporters.

The incident occurred when people from Gokulnagar village on the Khejuri side started assembling in Tekhalibazar on the Nandigram side yesterday afternoon, police said adding a clash broke out between the supporters of BUPC on the Nandigram side in Tekhali Bazar and the ruling CPI(M) supporters on the Khejuri side in Gokulnagar.

Tension was running high and a posse of police force had been deployed to avert any other untoward incident.

UNI