IPT releases report on Singur

Kolkata, Jun 5(UNI) The West Bengal government should stop acquiring land at Singur and Nandigram, according to a report prepared by the International People's Tribunal(IPT), a civil society organisation.

International People's Tribunal, a platform of 25 civil society organisation, held a hearing of Singur farmers. The hearing was done by Justice P D Muley of Indore, Justice V S Dave of Rajasthan, Justice Malay Sen Gupta of Sikkim, Philippines House of Representatives member Rafael Mariano and Advisor to Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Asho Chaturvedi.

The report mentioned that the state should stop evicting farmers, peasants and others from their livelihood.

IPT representative Biplab Halim said the state should withdraw all criminal cases so far institued against those persons who had been taken prisoners.

The report also raised the point that the state government should award appropriate compensation to the persons who became victims of police atrocities or/and independent Commission to look into Singur/Nandigram cases.

The government should implement genuine agrarian reform programmes with special focus on women and other landless workers.

Mr Halim has urged the state government to consider the report and pay reasonable rehabilitation package for the displaced people.

UNI