Clashes, fire, bandh keeps Nandigram simmering

East Midnapore, Jan 08: At least four policemen were injured whenDinabandhupur, near Nandigram, turned into a battleground withvillagers and the security forces fighting a pitched battle earlytoday, even as the area observed complete bandh today.

Bhumi Rakha Pratirodh Committee (Save Land Committee) supportersbrickbatted the policemen, who had gone there to rescue two of theircounterparts reportedly held by the committee members at Dinabandhupur.

Police said four of their officials were injured in the rampantstone pelting. The local villagers alleged that police fired fourrounds in air.

Committee members denied taking policemen as hostage and said theywere discussing the situation with the them. The situation at Nandigramhad remained very tense following the incident.

The CPI(M) party office at log-gate in Dinabandhupur was set ablaze early today, police said.

Most of the roads leading to Nandigram and Dinabandhupur area wereblocked and dug out. Trenches were dug and boulders and felled treeswere used to make the roads unmotorable.

Nandigram, Dinabdhupur and Sonachura remained off-limits to the outsiders.

The bandh was total at Nandigram with shops remaining closed.

Vehicles were also off the road. The Opposition parties had calledthe bandh on the issue of farmland acquisition for industry and theviolence on Saturday night that left seven dead, several injured and atleast 10 missing.

UNI