Nandigram: Medha on hunger strike, asks Central intervention

Kolkata, Nov 10: Social activist Medha Patkar began a 48-hour hunger strike here today demanding Central intervention into the Nandigram violence as a turf war continued to rage between the supporters of CPI(M) and the Trinamool Congress-led Bhumi Uchched Protirodh Committee.

Joined by a section of artistes and other social forums, Ms Patkar, who was roughed up and prevented from going inside Nandigram allegedly by CPI(M) supporters on November eight, also demanded withdrawal of Marxist cadres from the embattled area.

Ms Patkar had met Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi at the Raj Bhavan yesterday and submitted a memorandum demanding "urgent intervention by the Governor as well as the Government of India to open up Nandigram by ensuring withdrawal of siege and stopping outsiders from entering".

The Narmada Bachao Andolon leader also alleged that police behaved in a partisan manner.

Sporadic clashes between rival groups have continued despite the state government's decision against the setting up of a chemical hub in the area in the face of protests from a section of the people there.

Meanwhile, talking to the sources, Ms Patkar described Nandigram as a 'a concentration camp where the communists have unleashed a reign of terror to recapture lost ground'.

''With no scope to find a redressal for the grievances, Nandigram is a veritable concentration camp where people are suffering helplessly,'' she said.

Ms Patkar said she had drawn the attention of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to the 'blatant violation' of human rights in Nandigram.

UNI