Six killed in police firing in Nandigram, Patil tells RS

New Delhi, Mar 14 (UNI) Six people were today killed in police firing in Nandigram in West Bengal where a Special Economic Zone is proposed to be developed, Home Minister Shiv Raj Patil informed the agitated Members in the Rajya Sabha.

The police firing and mob violence also left 20, including eight policemen injured, he said.

Making a statement in the House on the direction of the Chair, he said those killed were villagers who were trying to prevent workers from going to Nandigram SEZ area to start construction of a road.

He said a mob of 20,000 had collected and gheraoed the two places where workers were going for work.

There was stone pelting from the mob to which the police replied with teargas and rubber bullets, but soon some crude bombs were thrown and there was firing and then police too had to open fire, in which six people were killed.

However, the situation was under control now, Mr Patil said.

He said he was giving this information on the basis of the telephonic conversation he had with West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharji.

Mr Patil said the Secretary and other officers of his ministry were in constant touch with senior officials of the state government.

UNI