Nandigram firing worse than 'Jalianwalabagh massacre': Cong

Kolkata, Mar 14: Describing today's police firing at Nandigram as worse than Jalianwalabagh massacre, West Bengal Pradesh Congress today alleged that at least 25 people were killed and more than 300 injured in the police firing. The party also called a 12-hour bandh on March 16 which coincides with the one called by the opposition Trinamool Congress.

Speaking to newsmen after staging a mass walkout from the assembly for the day, Congress chief whip Dr Manash Bhuniya described the alleged unprovoked police firing at Nandigram as "barbaric" and termed the state government as a "killer government".

He said, ''Nowhere else in the world had such a government sponsored massacre taken place.'' Dr Bhuniya said he had already apprised Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil of the incident.

Describing the prevailing situation at Nandigram as "explosive," the Congress called for imposition of Article 356 ensuring immediate President's rule in the state. Dr Bhuniya said that Ms Gandhi has promised him immediate steps.

He said a Pradesh Congress delegation would meet Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi this evening and submit a memorandum to him, including a demand for imposition of Article 356.

Also demanding the immediate sacking of East Midnapore Superintendent of Police A Srinivasan, Dr Bhuniya said stern action must also be taken against all senior police persons in the district involved in the police firing.

''If necessary, we will file murder charges against them at the right forum,'' the Congress chief whip said.

He said the situation was 'so alarming' that nobody was allowed to enter the nearby areas of Nandigram, even the media. As a result, conflicting reports about the actual situation were pouring in.

Asked about the truthfulness of the allegation that 25 people had already been killed, Dr Bhuniya, quoting Congress's East Midnapore district president Subhendu Dey, said he had personally counted the bodies, which included a number of women and children.

The condition of a large number of injured was stated to be critical, he said adding that all out efforts were being made by the party to reach the medical care to them.

Asked about the party's future stand and on whether their boycott of the assembly proceedings would continue tomorrow onwards, he said, ''Since this was the budget session and there was a need to officially record our protest in the house, we will take a final decision on whether to attend the house or continue the boycott at an emergency meeting here by the party legislators tonight.'' When his attention was drawn to yesterday's high-power meeting at the Writer's Buildings, in presence of the Chief Secretary and Home Secretary, Dr Bhuniya alleged that a blueprint for today's violence was inked and squarely blamed Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee for the entire episode and demanded his resignation.

UNI