Cal HC directs Bengal govt to protect villagers in Nandigram

KOLKATA: The Calcutta High Court on Monday directed the West Bengal government to ensure protection of the lives and liberty of the residents of Nandigram as ensured under Article 21 of the Constitution.

A division bench comprising Justices P C Ghose and B Somadder made it clear that all adequate measures would have to be taken by state authorities to ensure that fundamental rights of the people of Nandigram were not violated.

The order came after advocate Bhaskar Ghosh mentioned about Sunday's fresh violence in Nandigram and complained that the police had failed to restore law and order and provide protection to the villagers in the troubled area since January.

Appearing for an NGO Empathy-05, Ghosh suggested that a large contingent of police be deployed in the disturbed area to restore rule of law.

Appearing for the state, advocate Asim Chatterjee stated that the police had taken steps to maintain law and order but were moving cautiously considering the situation in Nandigram.

Hearing both the parties, the bench passed the direction.

The police have not been able to enter large areas of Nandigram in East Midnapore district since January owing to stiff resistance by locals who are opposed to setting of a SEZ on acquired land and have dug up roads at different places making the area inaccessible.

At least 14 persons were killed on March 14 when the police tried to enter the villages to repair roads and bridges damaged by villagers.