Compensation to Nandigram victims' families - Basu

Kolkata, Oct 26 (UNI) The West Bengal Government will pay compensation to the families of those killed in the March 14 violence in Nandigram irrespective of whether they were killed in police firing, CPI (M) patriarch Jyoti Basu today said.

'' The state Government will pay compensation to all those killed in the March 14 violence in Nandigram. Even those who died in bomb explosions will be paid compensation on humanitarian grounds, '' he told reporters after attending the party's state Secretariat meeting here.

Altogether, 14 people were killed in the Nandigram violence, of them, eight died in police firing.

Earlier, Home Secretary Prasad Ranjan Ray said on Wednesday last that the compensation proposal would be restricted only to the kins of the eight people who fell to police bullets.

However, Mr Basu today said the party wanted the families of all those killed to avail compensation.

He said the government's foremost priority would be to ensure peace in Nandigram. '' We are continuing peace talks with various parties to ensure that peace prevails, '' he said.

The CPI(M) had been demanding compensation for the families of the victims killed in the Nandigram violence over a period of the past ten months without limiting to a single day.

At least 25 people have been killed in political rivalry in the region since January last, which was sparked off over the reported move of the Government for acquisition of land for setting up a chemical hub.

Meanwhile, tension started brewing up again on the border areas of Nandigram and Khejuri with warring groups of the CPI (M) and Bhumi Uchhed Protirodh Committee (BUPC) firing and hurling bombs, SP, East Midnapur district, A Srinivasan said.

UNI