Civil War-like situation in Nandigram

Nandigram, Mar 18: Alleging that a "civil war-like" situation had been created in Nadigram, Union Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunshi today held the Left Front government responsible for the killings and threatened to take action if the state did not cooperate with the CBI team.

"I would ask the CBI to inform the Centre if cooperation is not available. The central government will give all support to the investigating team. CBI should also inform the court," he said, while addressing a rally at Sonachura on his vist to Nandigram where at least 14 people were killed and 71 injured in police firing on March 14.

Terming the police firing on people here as unprecedented in independent India, Union Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunshi today alleged that a "civil war-like situation" was created.

The Information and Broadcasting Minister accused police of acting in tandem with CPI-M activists to attack people and create such a situation.

"It is now clear that with the direct support of police, a civil war-like situation was created to cleanse people," he said. He also alleged that "police provided arms to CPI-M activists which they had snatched from anti-socials to create such a situation".

Mr Dasmunshi claimed that five days before the firing on March 14, RSP MP Abani Roy had told him that a tragedy was going to take place in Nandigram.

"I tried to inform the chief minister and the chief secretary about this, but they were busy," he said.

"Let the CBI probe who are responsible. The killers must be punished," he said adding that the entire matter would be reported to the Union Home Minister.

Calling upon Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee to hold a meeting with all concerned to restore peace in the area, Mr Dasmunshi urged the state government to give in writing that no land would be acquired in Nandigram.

He said the government should prepare a list of land holdings in Nandigram area and submit it to the governor. "The state goverment must issue a notification that no land would be acquired," he said.

Mr Dasmunshi's demand came a day after the ruling Left Front decided against acquiring land and keeping police in Nandigram. The Union Minsiter further demanded that police must be removed immediately and not in phases from Nandigarm. Accompanied by his wife Deepa Dasmuinshi, he later visited Tamluk and Nandigram hospitals where most of the injured were admitted and enquired about their condition.

Mr Dasmunshi warned that police officers responsible for the firing on March 14 would not be able to escape. "The police officers responsible will be punished. The chief minister cannot save them now as the inquiry is being held under the High Court's supervision," he said.

He also alleged that police had, at the instigation of CPI-M cadres, filed 800 to 1,000 false cases against people in Nandigram.

He asked the people in Nandigram to prepare a detailed land holding in the area which would be submitted to the governor and promised that the Centre would impress on the chief minister that these land should never be acquired for industries.

He also rejected the idea that Congress was soft in initiating action as it was dependent on the outside support of the CPI-M and other Left parties.

UNI