PM expresses concern over Nandigram violence

KOLKATA: Expressing concern over violence in Nandigram, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has asked Union Home minister Shivraj Patil to look into it urgently.
    
The Prime Minister communicated this to Saifuddin Choudhury, president of the Party for Democratic Socialism (PDS), a constituent of a Trinamool Congress-led outfit spearheading the agitation against land acquisition.
    
Singh, in reply to the PDS chief's letter about attacks on the people of Nandigram allegedly from CPI-M stronghold of Khejuri, said, ''I am concerned about the developments there and have spoken to the Home Minister to look into these urgently.''
    
Singh, however, did not mention about deployment of CRPF at Nandigram as sought by West Bengal government to restore peace in the trouble-torn area.
    
Earlier in the day, West Bengal Home Secretary P R Roy said he had no information when the central forces would be despatched to Nandigram.
    
He said the CRPF would be under the state government but act independently.
    
Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee has demanded that CRPF should not be put under the control of the state government.
    
Nandigram has been the scene of recurring clashes since January resulting in deaths, including 14 in police firing and violence on March 14 when villagers resisted the police from entering.