Police officer received bullet injury at Nandigram

Nandigram, Kolkata, Jun 15(UNI) In a renewed violence that jolted the ongoing peace process in Nandigram, a police inspector was critically injured when he was shot allegedly by supporters of Bhumi Uchched Protirodh Committee at Bhangabera today.

Home Secretary Prasad Ranjan Ray said the members of Bhumi Uchched Protirodh Committee opened fire in which Inspector Prabhat Sarkar was hit on his head.

Mr Ray said it could not be immediately ascertained whether police retaliated the attack.

East Midnapore Superintendant of Police G Srinivasan said after getting involved in a clash with CPI(M) supporters, members of the Trinamool Congress-led Bhumi Uchhed Protirodh Committee started firing at a nearby police camp. Mr Sarkar, who was in-charge of the camp, received bullet injury when he came out to assess the situation.

The injured officer was immediately rushed to hospital where his condition was stated to be critical and later transferred to Tamluk District Hospital.

The SP said the situation was now under control and police reinforcement had been sent to the area.

Meanwhile, blaming the CPI(M) for the violence, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee alleged that the cadres of the party, based in the adjoining Khejuri, had been attacking Nandigram for the past three months.

When pointed out that a police officer was injured in the firing by the Bhumi Ucched Pratirodh Committee (BUPC) at Nandigram during the day, Ms Banerjee said hundreds of people had so far been injured in the attack by the CPI(M) cadres.

''Whether it is the police or the common people, injury to anyone is not desirable,'' she added.

UNI