CPI(M) Polit Bureau regrets police firing, blames disruptive forces

Kolkata, Mar 14 (UNI) CPI(M) Polit Bureau blamed the ''organised elements'' for forcing police to open fire at Nandigram today, leading to the loss of several lives and urged the people to stand unitedly against disruptive forces.

Issuing a strongly worded statement in the wake of the reported death of 14 people in unprecedented violence at Nandigarm since this morning, the CPI(M) Polit Bureau, the highest policy making body of the party, however, maintained that police ''entered Nandigram to see that the roads, culverts and bridges were repaired and the administration restored,'' but they were attacked with brickbats, bombs and pipeguns.

Stating that for the past two-and-a-half months five Gram Panchayats in Block I of Nandigram had been out of bounds for the administration, the Polit Bureau said certain elements had resorted to violence and cut off roads and bridges on the pretext of land acquisition.

Repeated efforts to hold meetings so that peace could be restored were rebuffed with several Opposition parties and elements refusing to attend them, the Polit Bureau maintained and blamed the Opposition for the present situation.

UNI