Dasmunsi threatens action over ''war-like situation in Nandigram''

Nandigram, Mar 18 (UNI) Alleging that a ''civil war-like'' situation had been created in Nandigram, Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi 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, the Union Minister alleged that a ''civil war-like situation'' had been created.

He accused the 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 Dasmunsi 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 Dasmunsi 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.

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