Violence erupts in Nandigram as 8 houses set afire

Nandigram, Jan 18: Violence erupted here again when houses of eight Bhumi Uchhed Protirodh Committee members were set on fire allegedly by CPI(M) activists in Amratala village under Nandigram Block-II last night.

Officer-in-Charge of Nandigram Police Station Debasis Chakraborty confirmed the incident. Trinamool Congress Block president Mahadeb Bag said a few CPI(M) men had beaten up their supporters the previous night. The injured had lodged a complaint with the Nandigram police. ''Last night's incident was in retaliation to that complaint,'' Mr Bag added.

However, no arrest had yet been made. Tension prevailed in the area.

Meanwhile, political observers here said the two main guiding forces behind the Nandigram movement--Sisir Adhikary, MLA from Egra and his son Subhendu, MLA from Contai and convener of the BUPC--might leave the Trinamool Congress party and join the Congress because of the 'unsympathetic' attitude of party supremo Mamata Banerjee.

Sisir Adhikary has called a meeting of party workers in Egra on Sunday to take a decision in this matter, it was learnt.

UNI