Fresh violence rocked Nandigram with an attack on a relief camp by members of the Trinamool Congress-backed Bhumi BUPC leaving at least two cops injured.
KOLKATA: Nandigram was once again jolted out of bed on Friday as armed activists of the Trinamool Congress-led Bhumi Ucched Pratirodh Committee (Land Eviction Resistance Committee) clashed with CPI(M) supporters sparking tension in the area. There was heavy bombing and cross-firing in which Pravat Sarkar, a senior inspector of the West Bengal police, sustained a severe bullet injury.
Tension ran high from the morning at Bhangabera in Nandigram, as the hearing of the public interest litigation on the March 14 police firing was being heard at the Calcutta High Court. The committee activists held protest demonstrations at Bhangabera and some of them started hurling bombs at the CPI(M) relief camps in the Bhangabera-adjacent areas.
There was retaliation from the Opposition camps that resulted in severe clashes.Sarkar, who received a bullet injury at his collarbone was shifted to a Kolkata-based hospital in critical condition.
Inspector General (law & order) of West Bengal police, Raj Kanojia, confirmed that the attack was first launched by a section of the protesting committee activists.
According to CPI(M)'s East Midnapore district committee leaders, the committee supporters were unnecessarily creating tension as the state had already said that there won't be any acquisition of land for industrial use at Nandigram.
“They not only attacked our supporters, but also fired at the police camps there, which injured a police inspector,” a senior district committee leader said.
Though Trinamool Congress chief, Mamata Banerjee condemned the violence at a press meet on Friday, she rubbished claims made by the state administration that the committee activists sparked the fire.
“Since the past three days, the CPI(M) activists are attacking the committee supporters and villagers in Nandigram.
“It is the CPI(M), who should be blamed for the fresh violence,” she said.
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