One dead as Nandigram shimmers

Nandigram, East Midnapore, Jan 7 (UNI) Barely 24 hours after the peace talks to resolve the issue of land acquisition, one person was killed in night-long violent clashes in the town.

''One person, Bharat Mandal, has been killed in the night long clashes near Sonachura Mouza in the outskirts of Nandigram,'' district Magistrate Anup Agarwal told UNI.

Admitting that the situation was tense in the area, he said a big police party, led by the SP, was trying to reach the spot despite the fact that most of the roads and bridges have been made unmotorable.

''They are trying to enter Nandigram from the Khejuri areas,'' he added.

However, unofficial reports said atleast four people have died in the clash allegedly between Bhumi Ucched Raksha Committee (BURC) and Krishi Silpa Sangrakhan Committee (KSSC).

According to unofficial sources, the other three deceased were Bhudev Mandal, Kankar Samanta and Sheikh Salim. There were also reports of 12 people being injured in the night long clash during which a few rounds of firing took place between the two sides, who also hurled bombs at each other.

Police were trying to restore peace in Nandigram, which had been witnessing sporadic clashes since last Wednesday.

Trouble broke out after reports that land acqusition notices were being served for setting up a SEZ for the Salim group of Indonesia.

Even on Saturday, five 'Anchals' of Nandigram remained offlimit to outsiders.

CPM supporters held meeting at Balipata, Serkkachak, Panusabazar, Kurighat and Tekhalibazar, sources said. adding that the local people feared that they would make attempts to reoccupy areas vacated by them.

On Saturday evening, a procession was taken to Nandigram PS demanding the release of six CPI(ML) Liberation supporters, who arrested at Tekhali bazar on Wednesday and remanded to police custody.

Trouble broke out last night when allegedly CPIM led KSSC supporters tried to enter Nandigram and were stopped by the locals.

UNI