Governor visits Nandigram victims;Mamata demands CM's resignation

Tamluk/Nandigram, Mar 15 (UNI) West Bengal Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi today described yesterday's incident in Nandigram as ''tragic'', while Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee owning responsibility for the police firing.

''The situation is tragic. We should restrict our anger and sentiments at the moment,'' the Governor said after visiting the injured, admitted to Tamluk hospital.

The governor was at the Tamluk hospital for an hour, during which he talked to each patient, inquired after their health and discussed their condition with the attending doctors.

Expressing satisfaction at the arrangements in the hospital, Mr Gandhi said he had asked the authorities to give the injured the best possible assistance on a war footing.

''All the patients who are still lying in Nandigram hospital require rapid transfer to better places. I assure you that there is no dearth of ambulance or blood,'' he said.

Meanwhile, after reaching Nandigram, braving blockades put up by CPI(M) supporters, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee said the chief minister must shoulder the responsibility for the police firing in which at least 14 people were killed and many injured.

''Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee will have to take the entire responsibility of the massacre in which so many people died and he must resign,'' she said.

Ms Banerjee, who started from Kolkata yesterday, was admitted to a local primary health centre after she complained of uneasiness some time after reaching here. She was, however, released by doctors later following a health check-up.

After reaching Nandigram, the Trinamool leader said she had met the injured villagers. Ms Banerjee alleged that she was intercepted by CPI(M) supporters at Chanditala on her way to Nandigram last night. The CPI(M) men surrounded the entire area and shouted slogans, she said.

''I feel ashamed that though I am a resident of West Bengal I cannot reach the spot to meet the people who have lost their family members in the police firing,'' Ms Banerjee said.

The CPI(M) supporters put logs on road and shouted slogans, ''Go back Mamata''. After spending the night at a guest house in Kanthi, Ms.Banerjee reached Nandigram this morning.

The Trinamool chief asserted that her party would continue the anti-land acquisition movement till the government withdrew the notification for taking over land in Nandigram.

UNI