SUCI apprehends rigging in Panchayat election

Kolkata, May 10 (UNI) The Socialist Unity Centre of India (SUCI) today threatened to launch a 'mass movement' throughout the state if the Panchayat election, begining tomorrow, is not conducted in a free and fair manner.

''The Panchayat poll will be a farce. It will not be possible to conduct free and fair polls in Nandigram because the people will not be able to cast their votes as the CPI(M) hooligans will capture the booths and rig freely,'' SUCI state secretary Provash Ghosh told mediapersons here.

Taking exception to the Chief Minister's claim that the Panchayat election would be free and fair, Mr Ghosh alleged that about 11,000 people in Nandigram have fled their homes and were living in refugee camps and CPI(M) supporters were preventing the candidates from campaigning, hurling bombs on their houses and threatening them.

''We have demanded removing of the Oficer-in-Charge and SP of East Midnapore, border sealing of Nandigram and Khejuri and deployment of CRPF throughout the state, including Nandigram, for conducting peaceful election, but the administration did not meet our demands,'' Mr Ghosh maintained.

UNI AKM ADG AE AS1857