Rival groups indulge in violence in Nandigram

Nandigram, Jun 16 (UNI) The peace process in Nandigram was further impaired today with the bombing and exchanging of fire by rival groups of CPI(M) and Bhumi Uchhed Protirodh Committee near Tekhali police camp here.

Police fired about 10 rounds in the air to quell the mob, SP, East Midnapore, A Srinivas said.

The encounter between CPI(M) and Protirodh Committee members started early this morning when the latter allegedly came to snatch away the four arrested people of Protirodh Committee, apprehended by police in yesterday's incident. Protirodh Committee supporters allegedly entered Khejuri areas yesterday and torched the CPI(M) camp making 350 CPI(M) supporters homeless for the second time.

Incidentally, around the same time CPI(M) State Secretary Biman Basu was holding a top level party meeting at Maniktala in Tamluk Town with East Midnapur district party bosses and advancing them about future steps to be taken to maintain peace.

Meanwhile, mentioning about yesterday's incident here, Mr Basu told reporters ''this proves that the opposition pays only lip service to peace without being really interested in it.'' Not mentioning the name of Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee, he said the opposition was responsible for making the CPI(M) supporters homeless.

''The move for bringing peace in the area received a rude jolt after yesterday's incident. The opposition are bringing back uncertainty and playing with fire. The administration should take proper steps,'' Mr Basu said.

Maintaining his earlier stand, he said,'' This proves that the peace talk should have been held at the grassroots level and not at Kolkata as has been done most unwisely. Such meetings at the state level are useless. Yesterday's incident has proved that such meeting should be held in the district level or even at the village level at first to bring about real peace.'' Criticising Mr Basu's meeting at Tamluk, Bhumi Uchhed Protirodh Committee leader Sisir Adhikary, MLA, said CPI(M) supporters tried to enter Nandigram yesterday accompanying police and this was against the settlement talks between Mr Jyoti Basu and Ms Mamata Banerjee held earlier.

UNI