Nandigram: Centre receives state report

New Delhi, Mar 15 (UNI) The Centre today received a report from the West Bengal government, explaining yesterday's police firing, in which 14 people were killed in Nandigram, and asserting that law and order had been restored in the area.

In its four-page report, the Left government had pointed out that the police had opened fire as thousands of local people in Nandigram resisted the police violently by resorting to brickbating, hurling bombs and opening fire.

Home Ministry sources confirmed the receipt of the report, and said the Centre had asked the state government to provide relief to the next of kin of those killed and injured in the firing.

The Centre asked the state to talk to all concerned to assuage their feelings so that peace and normalcy could be restored in the Nandigram area.

While assuring all help to restore "complete normalcy," the Home Ministry asked the state to take all preventive measures to defuse the situation.

UNI