Violence continues at Nandigram, Governor calls for peace

NANDIGRAM: The police fired in the air to disperse armed members of Trinamool Congress-backed anti-land acquisition platform and CPI(M) who clashed for the second day on Saturday at Nandigram as West Bengal Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi called for immediate restoration of peace there.

The police fired after the Bhumi Ucched Pratirodh Committee and CPI(M) cadres traded gunfire and hurled bombs at each other at Tekhalibazar leading to fresh tension, East Midnapore district superintendent of police GA Srinivas said.

Five persons were injured in the clashes, he said.

Ashok Guria, member of CPI(M)-backed Krishak Sabha, said the firing was to ward off BUPC supporters who tried to 'occupy' Khejuri, a CPI(M) stronghold.

The police said most areas in Nandigram still remained out of bounds for them and they were unable to enter as roads in the area remained dug up since January when violence first flared.

In Kolkata, the Governor, speaking to reporters, condemned the fresh violence and called for immediate restoration of peace at Nandigram.

The Governor went to the SSKM hospital to visit police inspector Prabhat Kumar Sarkar who is recovering from bullet injuries he received in the head at Nandigram on Friday.