Mamata Demands Disturbed Area Act in Nandigram

Kolkata, May 3 (UNI) Calcutta High Court today directed the West Bengal government to restore normality in Nandigram, while Trinamool Congress superemo Mamata Banerjee demanded promulgation of Disturbed Areas Act and deployment of para-military force in the adjoining Khejuri area in West Minapore.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Surinder Singh Nijjhar and Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghosh also asked the Government to immediately supply essential commodities to the Nandigram villagers as the area remained virtually cut off from rest of the state since January.

Clashes between rival political groups and flight of people to safer areas have become regular features in Nandigram, witnessing a prolonged unrest since January last when violence broke out for the first time over the Government's reported move to acquire land for setting up of a Special Economic Zone (SEZ).

Not satisfied with the 'status report' on Nandigram, submitted by Advocate General (AG) Balai Roy, the court observed that the government had failed to mention in it the measures taken by it to restore law and order there.

Meanwhile, Ms Banerjee, who met Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi at the Raj Bhavan, demanded immediate measures to curb ''violent attacks on Nandigram by armed CPI(M) men'' from the bordering Khejuri area.

''I have told the Governor that unless para-military forces are deployed at Khejuri and its border with Nandigram is sealed, peace will not return. If necessary, the area should be brought under Disturbed Areas Act,'' she told reporters after coming out of the Raj Bhavan.

Ms Banerjee was accompanied by Pradesh Congress leader Jayanta Bhattacharjee and several Trinamool Congress MLAs.

She said the Governor had expressed his concern over the situation and assured her to initiate whatever he could do to restore normalcy in Nandigram.

In the state secretariat, Chief Secretary Amit Kiran Deb, however, ruled out any possibility of deployment of para-military forces in Nandigram or its ajoining areas.

Observing that the High Court had not given any directive for sending para-military troops, Home Secretary Prasad Ranjan Roy also said the state had adequate strength of police to tackle the situation.

Though police had so far been kept at a length from Nandigram to avoid any ''repeatation of the March 14 incident'', the Home Secretary said police would enter the area only if the situation so demanded.

UNI