Either withdraw CRPF or give free hand in Nandigram: Cong

Kolkata, Nov 23 (UNI) The West Bengal Congress today said it would raise the Nandigram issue in the Assembly and seek a clarification from Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee as why the two CPI(M) leaders- Anup Mondal and Krishnapada Ghorui of Nandigram- have been released.

Congress Legislative Party leader Manas Bhuiya has demanded that the Chief Minister should inform the legislative assembly who had instructed for release of the two, accused of various crimes.

The duo- Mondol and Ghorui - were facing charges of murder and extortion, was arrested by the CRPF at Sonachura on November 20 and handed over to the Nandigram police station. But later the police released them, said Mr Bhuiya.

"Either the state government withdraw the Central forces or give them free hand to maintain peace in Nandigram area," he demanded.

Mr Bhuiya quoting the CRPF's Director General, Alok Raj, as saying the state administration was not cooperating with the central forces.If the government deployed army in Siliguri and Kolkata within few hours after sporadic violence, why not in Nandigram where trouble had been continuing in the last eleven months, he asked. Mr Bhuiya was referring to deployment of army in Siliguri during controvercial radio comment on India Idol Prasant Tamang recently.

He said the winter assembly session would begin on December five and the Chief Minister should reply to all questions.

A 10-member PCC delegation team under Bhuiya would visit Nandigram tomorrow to access the situation there.

"We are urging all the community in general to refrain from any violence and maintain peace and harmony in the state," he urged.

UNI