Two incidents of clashes were reported after a group of 150 CPI (M) supporters tried to march into Nandigram from two points at Khejuri and Tekhali Bazar.
NANDIGRAM: With only two days to go for start of the recording of statements of villagers of Nandigram on March 14 police firing by an inquiry committee, tension on Monday gripped the troubled area with sporadic violence including a clash between rival political groups.
Two incidents of clashes were reported on Monday after a group of 150 CPI (M) supporters tried to march into Nandigram from two points at Khejuri and Tekhali Bazar.
The group was chased away by supporters of opposition Trinamool Congress-backed Bhumi Uchched Pratirodh (Land Acquisition Resistance) Committee which is spearheading the agitation against land acquisition in the area.
The clash, however, did not turn ugly as CPI (M) supporters withdrew, the police said.
Superintendent of Police East Midnapur district, G Srinivas, when contacted, said he had heard about the incident and was inquiring into the matter.
Locals complained that tension was building up in the area over the past few days with rival groups throwing bombs at each other from a distance almost every evening.
Sk Abu Taher, a senior leader of BUPC, alleged CPI (M) supporters were to scare away Nandigram villagers so that they did not record their statements before the executive inquiry hearing scheduled to begin on April 18.
"They (CPI-M) do not want villagers to appear before the inquiry committee," Taher said.
Taher said villagers were eager to record their eyewitness account of the March 14 police firing in which 14 people were killed. Already 150 applications have been submitted at the Nandigram Police Station.
"We expect that by Wednesday nearly 500 applications will be submitted," he said.
He, however, said nearly 100 villagers of Nandigram were still living away from home.
He said nearly 150 CPI(M) supporters also left their homes apprehending that villagers would complain against them to the inquiry committee about their role in the March 14 clash.
The Executive inquiry, ordered by the state government, had earlier held its hearing at Tamluk, nearly 50 km from here, where no villager from Nandigram appeared. But after BUPC protested, the hearing was shifted to the BDO office at nearby Chandipur for recording of statements of the villagers.
Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress alleged in Kolkata that CPI (M) 'goons' had unleashed a reign of terror with the help of the police to prevent its supporters from attending the hearing.
TC General Secretary Partha Chatterjee told newspersons that there have been 'organised attacks' on villagers and in a letter demanded immediate intervention of the DGP.
The Calcutta High Court during the day directed that an array of cases filed against West Bengal government in connection with the March 14 police action at Nandigram would be heard by it on April 18.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}