Centre asks WB govt to restore peace,makes available CRPF battalion

New Delhi, Nov 10 (UNI) The Centre has asked the West Bengal Government to take urgent steps to restore normalcy in the violence affected Nandigram and accepted its request to make available paramilitary force for this purpose.

The Centre is keeping a constant watch on the situation in the state with Home Minister Shivraj Patil urging Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya to take immediate steps to ensure safe return of the people to their villages and an environment of peace and security be created for those who have been displaced from their homes due to the ongoing tension in Nandigram.

The state government has asked for deployment of Central forces in West Bengal to help them to do this. Considering the overall situation in the State, the Central Government has decided to make available one battalion of CRPF to the State Government.

However, it has urged the state government to use the State security forces, who are familiar with the language and terrain to achieve the desired objective of restoring peace and normalcy in the area.

Earlier in the day, at least one person was killed and 30 others injured when CPI(M) activists allegedly fired at a peaceful, unarmed procession taken out by the Bhumi Ucchhed Pratirodh Committee (BUPC) supporters.

Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee today resigned from the Lok Sabha, protesting against the violence in Nandigram.

UNI