Bengal Govt not to go for police action in Nandigram

Kolkata, Apr 30(UNI) Police observed maximum restraint during yesterday's violence at Nandigram to avoid a repeatation of the March 14 incident, Home Secretary P R Roy today said.

'' The administration does not want that there should be a repeatation of the March 14 incident. That is why police acted in a restrained manner to control situation during yesterday's violence,'' he told reporters after a high level meeting at the state secretariat.

The meeting, convened by Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee to review the Nandigram violence, was attended among others by Chief Secretary Amit Kiran Deb and Director General of Police A B Vora.

It is learnt that the meeting decided to continue a ''political and social process'' for restoration of peace in Nandigram rather than going for any immediate police action in the area.

Allegations were made from the opposition as well as a section of the Left Front partners that police remained inactive even as rival groups, belonging to the Trinamool Congress-led Bhoomi Raksha Committee and the CPI(M) remained engaged in a day long battle.

Mr Roy said while one person was killed and ten were injured, one remained missing following the incident.

He said the state Government had already apprised the centre of the whole incident.

In reply to a question, the Home Secretary said the Government would shortly call an all-party meeting to pave way for restoration of peace in the area even as the Trinamool Congress refused to participate.

The Trinamool Congress had all along maintained that the party would not take part in any all-party meeting unless the CPI(M) men stopped attacking Nandigram from outside.

After the March 14 incident, in which at least 14 people were killed in police firing, at least three all-party meetings were called by the East Midnapore district administration. But not a single meeting could take place because of non participation of the Trinamool Congress.

UNI