Nandigram flareup claims 14; bandh on Mar 16

Nandigram, Mar 14: At least 14 people were killed and 50 injuredwhen villagers fought with police in a major flare-up in Nandigram ofEast Midnapore district today while resisting the law keepers fromentering the embattled area.

While 13 people, including a woman, were killed in police firing,a villager died after a bomb he was about to hurl, burst in his hands,official sources said. Of the injured 14 were policemen.

Terming it a "great massacre", the Trinamool Congress-led KrishiJami Raksha Committee called a 12-hour state-wide bandh on March 16 todemand the resignation of Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee.

The Congress,BJP and SUCI gave separate bandh calls on the same day.

District Magistrate Anup Agarwal told UNI that police had to firewhen villagers attacked them with bombs and stones while additionalforces were entering the area. He said four of those killed had so farbeen identified.

Demanding President's rule in the state, Trinamool Congresssupremo Mamata Banerjee said at least 20 villagers had been shot deadand more than 200 injured. She alleged that most of the victims werewomen and children.

Ms.Banerjee, who alleged that a state sponsored terrorism was on in the state, visited the injured admitted to hospital.

UNI

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