One killed, four injured in fresh Nandigram violence

Nandigram/Kolkata, Apr 29 (UNI) At least one person was killed and four were seriously injured as fresh violence between the supporters of CPI(M) and Bhumi Uchched Protirodh Committee (BUPC) rocked the strife-torn Nandigram in East Midnapore today.

Members of the Trinamool Congress-led BUPC and CPI(M) workers clashed in a free exchange of bombs and gun shots at Satrangi bazar, a remote area under Nandigram police station, Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) Raj Kanojia told UNI.

''The violence broke out in the morning and continued till afternoon even before police could arrive. One person, stated to be a CPI(M) supporter was killed and two others were injured. The victims have received gun shot injuries,'' he said.

Unconfirmed reports put the toll at three.

Police said one of the bodies had been detained by the villagers.

It was feared that some 36 people were injured in today's violence, unconfirmed reports added.

Mr Kanojia said a large contingent of police arrived at the scene of violence and efforts were being made to restore the normal situation.

The clash was reported to have begun when an armed motorcycle gang followed by about 1,000 armed men coming from Baharganj area on the Khejuri side tried to enter Nandigram.

Bombs were hurled and bullets fired on both sides and at least 15 houses were ransacked or set on fire.

One platoon of police trying to move towards Satrangi was prevetned to proceed beyond Giribazar by creating a barricade comprising mainly women and children.

Unconfirmed reports said that Nitai alias Dilip Mondol (26) was killed at Satrangi and his body was taken to Kamalda health centre.

Mohit Karan (29), another victim was killed in bomb throwing and his body was dragged towards Garhchakraberia by the villagers.

Police were trying to reach the spot in search of the body.

While, the CPI(M) leaders claimed that the BUPC was trying to gain ground in Nandigram before the coming panchayat election, the committee leaders said that the CPI(M) activists were trying to invade Nandigram.

Today's incident was a reminder of the bloody violence that took place on January 7 in which five people were killed after reports of acquisition of land for an SEZ ignited situation in this largely agrarian area driving a vertical political wedge among the local people owning allegience to the CPI(M) and the opposition parties.

At least 14 people were killed and more than 70 injured in Nandigram on March 14 when police opened fire to quell mob protesting the proposed take over of agricultural land for the SEZ for a chemical hub to be developed by the Indonesian Salim Group with Indian Oil Corporation being the anchor investor.

Though the proposed SEZ was scrapped, following continuous unrest after the March 14 incident, the area continued to be on boil for the past four months even as Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee repeated attempts to convene all party meetings to restore peace.

The incident came only two days after Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee warned the state Government another ''disaster'' in the area if CPI(M) workers did not stop ''attacking'' Nandigram from the adjoining Khejuri.

Ms Banerjee had warned that the Government would be solely responsible in case of any major untoward incident.

Thousands of people, most of them CPI(M) supporters, were still homeless as sporadic violence continued even after the Government issued a notification announcing that no land would be acquired in the area for any project.

A hearing into the Nandigram carnage report by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) by Calcutta High Court deferred amidst reports of killings and atrocities on women during the police action on March 14.

UNI