Nandigram simmers on Singur embers

Kolkata, Jan 04 (UNI) Even before the Singur flame cooled down, Nandigram came to the centre stage in West Bengal as villagers burnt the local CPI (M) office today in a repeating violence that erupted over land acquisition yesterday.

While the state government claimed that no notice had been issued for land acquisition and the mob fury was 'deliberate', Opposition parties came out in protest observing bandh in the village today while CPI General Secretary A.B.Bardhan called upon the Left Front Government to go slow in land take over drive.

A group of people stormed the local CPI (M) office and torched it shouting slogans shouting anti-acquisition slogans.

Condemning the incident CPI (M) state Secretary Biman Basu alleged that Trinamool Congress workers were behind the arson. He alleged that the Trinamool Congress was trying to stoke anarchy in the state.

Yesterday, altogether 20 people, including 14 cops were injured while two police vehicles were set ablaze as a 5,000-strong violent mob went on a rampage protesting the reported acquisition of 20,000 acres of land for the proposed special economic zone (SEZ) of the Indonesian Salim Group.

The irate mob had also felled trees and put boulders on road to prevent entry of anybody from outside.

However, Home Secretary Prasad Ranjan Ray today said no notification had been issued in the area for acquisition of land and "a rumour has been spread with a deliberate motive." He said police were investigating the matter and the government would take steps after receiving their report.

"The whole thing is not yet clear. Nothing can be said without receiving the polices investigation report," he said.

Meanwhile, CPI General Secretary A B Bardhan said after the outcry over Singur, where the Tatas proposed to set up a small car factory, "there was need for a cooling period" before going for further acquisition and the Left Front Government ought to take the coalition partners as well the local people into confidence.

"The Singur has not yet settled. There was the need for a cooling period. Before any acquisition it is necessary that the Government take the Front partners into confidence with all details and also convince the people," he told reporters on the sidelines of the CPI National Council meeting.

Meanwhile, the Congress and the Socialist Unity Centre of India (SUCI) observed a 12-hour bandh in Nandigram while Trinamool Congress leaders visited the area taking up another issue for their ongoing movement against Singur land acquisition.

Official sources, however, said situation had been brought under control in Nandigram and the police rifle, snatched during yesterday's violence, had been recovered.

The Home Secretary said additional police force had been posted in the area for a temporary period. He, however, said there was no talk about imposition of prohibitory orders under section 144 Cr P C.

UNI