Villagers ransack CPM office

Statesman News Service
The Statesman, 6 February

KHEJURI, Feb. 4: Even as one of the injured in yesterday’s blast at the CPI-M local committee office died today, angry villagers ransacked another office of the party at Battala early this morning. Seikh Nawazi (40), who was injured in a bomb blast at the Kunjapur CPI-M local committee office last night, died today. Three other critically injured people have been rushed to Tamluk Sadar Hospital. A mob ransacked the Battala CPI-M local committee office early this morning. These attacks and counter attacks have been described as the CPI-M’s ploy to shift attention from Nandigram to Khejuri. Tension brewed in Bidyapith, Sherkhanchak and Battala area near Khejuri after yesterday’s bomb blast at Kunjapur. Nawazi is a CPI-M supporter and Mr Suvendu Adhikari, district Trinamul Congress leader, alleged that he was injured when one of the bombs went off when Marxist cadres were allegedly making bombs in the party office. Following the blast, CPI-M workers have been guarding the Kunjapur office to prevent it from further attacks by villagers. A huge contingent of police force has been deployed at nearby Vidyapith area. Mr Ashok Guria, CPI-M district committee leader, blamed Trinamul Congress members for attacking and hurling bombs at their party office. “They want to keep the ongoing issue alive by such violent means. But, Trinamul members should not provoke our supporters, or else they will face the consequences,” he warned. A local farmer, Mr Nishikanta Bhunia, said: “Last night, CPI-M goons beat up Mr Dulal Barman, a Krishi Jomi Banchao Committee member. When we chased the attackers, they fled. Later, they came back and charged bombs to terrorise us.” Satsimli, Barkasari, Balibasti, Sahebnagar, Sherkhanchak areas near Khejuri have totally been cut off from rest of the district owing to digging of certain portions on the roads. Rebellious Krishi Jami Bachao Committee members have done it on the lines of Nandigram as a pre-emptive measure to prevent government from acquiring these areas for proposed SEZ.