Police fail to enter Nandigram, West Bengal
20 February, 2007
Nandigram (WB), Feb 20: Violence continued to rage at Nandigram as CPI-M and Bhumi Ucched Pratirodh Committee clashed with each other early today. Bombs were hurled and gun shots fired at around 2 am, CPI MLA Ilias Mohammad told a news agency.
However, there was no report of any casualty or injury. Intermittent clashes were taking place here between CPI-M and Bhumi Ucched Pratirodh Committee, the outfit spearheading the agitation against land acquisition for a proposed SEZ. The police, which have kept away from the troubled block of East Midnapore district since early January when six persons were killed in violence, made no attempt to enter the area, Ilias said.
The police initially sought to set up camps. Repair of roads dug up to prevent the entry of outsiders and the police to villages, which was to have begun today also did not take off, he said. Meanwhile, 933 students from Nandigram were appearing for examination at two centres of the West Bengal Board of Secondary Examination which began this morning.
Board Invigilator Tapas Raj pandit said although the examination was going on smoothly, the students were jittery following recurring violence. Yesterday's all-party peace meeting at which representatives of the Bhumi Uchhed Pratirodh Committee and Jamiat-e-Ulema-e-Hind, spearheading the stir against land acquisition, did not turn up, had resolved that the police would enter Nandigram and set up camps where necessary and roads would be repaired.
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posted by Resistance 20.2.07,
