Nandigram Under Fire
9th November 2007
Press Release
• Thousands Forced to Flee from Nandigram,Activists Under Arrest
• Memorandum Submitted to Governor of West Bengal
• Dharna begins in Kolkata, Two Day Protest Fast to Commence Tomorrow
Nandigram is under fire and scare. On the festive days of Kalipuja, the light
emerging from the land of Martyrdom is not of the lamps women would light in
their 'badis' (houses) but from the burning houses, put on fire by cadres
entering village after village and occupying land forcibly.
The reports coming from the land and the citizens as members of the Bhumi
Ucched Protirodh Committee indicate that AT LEAST 20,000 FAMILIES ARE MADE TO
FLEE FROM THEIR HOUSES IN SATANGABARI, SAMSABAD AND OTHER VILLAGES which are
either demolished or looted. We met Taslimadi in Kapasberia with Minudi, who
have taken shelter in their relatives' houses. But the tears in their eyes and
choked voices brought to us the pain and anguish for being made destitute and
homeless which could not be hidden. While thousands of families and more than a
lakh people have shifted either to the schools and other public buildings, or
to the open grounds where huge camps are set up by the committee where most of
the people are being fed, if not left hungry.
Tens of people, from the villages that laid their lives for land in 2007, the
very year of remembering of Gandhiji's Satyagraha, the Martyrdom of Bhagat
Singh and 150 years of the Sepoy Mutiny, saw their victory in the cancellation
of the Chemical hub to be brought on the lush green land in Nandigram, East
Midnapore. But that was not all. They are facing worse of the battles, a war.
Beyond throwing small bombs, firing across the Khaals (naalas) and rivulets,
demolishing 60 houses in Satangabari (May 2007) and such other attacks
threatening and targeting villagers; boycott of labourers and hawkers going to
work and customers going to nearby market is also a serious concern. Resistance
to this also became violent, as people and some of the supporting social and
political activists claimed that they could not survive without it.
A new phase began, with steady increase in the large number of persons, known
to be Harmad Vahini, CPI (M) cadres, and an open attack on the houses and
villages and also persons, started in October. Persons of both sides seem to
have been killed but no one is sure of the final tally. The information from
the area was in parts and parcels and delayed but now it's clear that CPI(M)
cadres from outside the area, as they are identified with goons, have been
marching, beating, hitting ……. forcibly occupying territory. News conveyed
and flashed clearly indicate that Satangabari, Samsabad, Sonachura and few
other villages are partially or fully vacated, occupied and houses looted and
damaged, even burnt. Beyond this, the total picture of the fight going on among
the unequal forces is not coming out but it's certain that unlike what is
presented from the ruling quarters in West Bengal, there is no infiltration of
Maoists that has caused all this. There may be a handful of activists belonging
to various ideologies â€" Gandhian to Maoism â€" reaching Nandigram, but we
have not doubt that the battle was started, led and is carried forward by the
local residents, women, men youth and children included.
We know that hundreds and hundreds of families have been left without
livelihoods who are only crying halt to snatch away their land, asserting their
rights but also appealing for peace. They, in thousands, are innocent, they are
challenged but they are committed even to lay their lives but not bent or
submit. They are beyond party lines, accepting the leadership of Bhumi Ucched
Protirodh Committee with representatives of villages' communities, peoples'
organisations such as Gana-unnayan and Jana-adhikar Raksha Samiti and also
local residents representing SUCI, TMC, PDCI and Congress as parties and
Jamait-e-Ulema-i-Hind. This must be understood by all.
What is going on in Nandigram is undemocratic, criminal and also inhuman.
People on both sides are losing lives while property and livelihood in the area
is irreversibly damaged. This is unacceptable.
The West Bengal Government has been repeatedly appealed by various
organisations, to control the situation by compelling the CPI (M) cadres to
withdraw the siege and stop forcible entry and occupation, but to no avail. THE
POLICE, INCLUDING SENIOR OFFICIALS, SEEM TO BE INACTIVE AND APATHETIC AS PER
ORDERS AND UNDER THE POLITICAL CONTROL OF LAKSHMAN SETH, MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT
AND CHAIRMAN OF HALDIA DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.
It is all these which necessitates an urgent intervention by not only the
Central Government, the Home Ministry but also the Constitutional authorities
and the National Human Rights Commission, to say the least.
IT WAS EXACTLY TO HIDE THIS AND PREVENT AN EXPOSURE THAT THE WEST BENGAL
GOVERNMENT IS NOT PERMITTING THE MEDIA PERSONS, except those who could somehow
manage.
We, representatives of Peoples' Movements, Paschim Banga Khet Mazdoor Samiti
and New Trade Union initiatives, NAPM, APDR, Forum of Artistes and
Intellectuals, Teachers and Scientists' forums, representatives from SUCI
including Tarun Sanyal, Sunondo Sanyal, Tarun Naskar, Sujata Bhadra, Meher
Engineer, Amit Bhattacharya, Debaprosad Sarkar(MLA), Anuradha Talwar ,Swapan
Ganguly and Medha Patkar, decided to visit Nandigram on being invited through
repeated calls and messages from the people facing the onslaught.
Yesterday, November 8th 2007, we proceeded towards Nandigram accompanied by
tens of policemen and officials, who warned us of security problems but also
assured us of being there to protect. On their conveying to us a possibility of
having a dialogue with the Chief Minister or Chief Secretary in the Government,
we agreed to hold the dialogue after visiting the area and assessing the
situation there. We took the Haldia route instead of the route we took earlier,
where CPI (M) cadres had stopped us.
We reached Kapasberia More at about 12:30 p.m. A gathering of 30-40 CPI (M)
cadres with Red flags stopped our convoy and started shouting abusive slogans
against us. Interestingly the police pilot car leading the convoy stepped aside
and made way for the goons so that they can have a free hand on us. A few
cadres specifically targeted Medha Patkar, Tarun Sanyal, Debjit, Deboprosad
Sarkar and Meher Engineer as well as a few media persons in other vehicles.
They started attacking Medha Patkar with fists, violently pulling her out of
the car by holding her hair and Sari. They broke the specks of Debjit and
partly tore the clothes of Sunondo Sanyal. They also broke the camera of a
media person.
All the while, the cadres were encircling all the cars (except the police ones)
and breaking the glass panes, shouted abusive and filthy languages to all of
us. Even at this point, police chose to be silent spectators who are watching
some fun for free. Five vehicles were able to turn back and move a few yards.
One sumo car (WB 02H â€" 4402), carrying Meher Engineer, Amit Bhattacharya and
Hindustan Times reporter Alok Banerjee, was severely damaged and the passengers
including Alok Banerjee were badly beaten in this unprecedented act of violence
by CPI(M) terrorists. The driver somehow managed to move forward towards
Kapasberia School where the local residents gave the passengers first aid.
Medha Patkar and others began to stage Dharna on the Kapasberia bridge and had
a protest sit-in for 3 hours and more. We handed over a letter addressed to the
Superintendent of Police and asked to make way for our visit to Nandigram and
to book the attackers under law.
Local residents came out in large numbers and showed their support and
solidarity towards us and to the struggle of common people of Nandigram and
condemned the CPI (M) attack on us. They also condemned the deliberate and
directed police inaction. Subsequently we lodged two complaints with the local
Mahishadal Police Station, one relating to breaking down of the above mentioned
Sumo car, and the other regarding the physical attack on Medha Patkar,
Deboprosad Sarkar (MLA) and others by CPI (M) cadres. We returned to Mecheda
for further action where Medha Patkar and Tarun Sanyal addressed the local
residents.
• We condemn such undemocratic and criminal tendencies by the ruling
party and demand as free and concerned citizens of India as well as
representatives of peoples' movements that we should be allowed to visit
Nandigram where more than a lakh people have become homeless and need our
immediate support and relief.
• We are shocked by the apathy, inaction and both direct and indirect
support of the police to the CPI (M) hooligans, indicating a break-down of
State Machinery resulting in non-availability of any channel for security and
redressal of grievances of common people.
• We urge an urgent intervention by the Governor of West Bengal as well
as the Union Government of India to open up Nandigram by ensuring withdrawal of
siege and stopping outsider-attackers from entering Nandigram.
• We demand that peaceful defenders of Human Rights' belonging to known
Peoples' organisations should be allowed and protected and their entry to
Nandigram area should be facilitated.
• We hope that all concerned and progressive citizens, civil
organisations as well as political parties will protest against the onslaught
on Nandigram, forcible occupation of their territory and violation of basic
human rights and civil liberties, compelling the Constitutional authorities and
government to intervene in this battle between the State and people for
freedom, democracy, right to life and livelihood.
Latest News:
1. Three People including Sadikulla from Jamat-e-Ulema-Hind, Schoota Das and
Samar Das, have been arrested while going towards Nandigram today.
2. Activists and intellectuals including Medha Patkar met the governor today
and submitted the memorandum to ensure the freedom of the people of Nandigram
and also the protection of their Constitutional rights.
3. People across India have written to the WB government condemning the attack
and the situation in Nandigram.
4. DHARNA (SIT IN) HAS BEGUN IN KOLKATA TODAY, IN WHICH PEOPLE FROM VARIOUS
ORGANISATIONS AND ACTIVISTS INCLUDING MEDHA PATKAR ARE PARTICIPATING. A TWO DAY
PROTEST FAST WILL COMMENCE TOMORROW.
Press Conference
THERE WILL BE A PRESS CONFERENCE AT 3.00 P.M. TODAY, DEMANDING THE IMMEDIATE
RELEASE OF ARRESTED ACTIVISTS AND BRINGING NORMALCY IN NANDIGRAM.
emerging from the land of Martyrdom is not of the lamps women would light in
their 'badis' (houses) but from the burning houses, put on fire by cadres
entering village after village and occupying land forcibly.
The reports coming from the land and the citizens as members of the Bhumi
Ucched Protirodh Committee indicate that AT LEAST 20,000 FAMILIES ARE MADE TO
FLEE FROM THEIR HOUSES IN SATANGABARI, SAMSABAD AND OTHER VILLAGES which are
either demolished or looted. We met Taslimadi in Kapasberia with Minudi, who
have taken shelter in their relatives' houses. But the tears in their eyes and
choked voices brought to us the pain and anguish for being made destitute and
homeless which could not be hidden. While thousands of families and more than a
lakh people have shifted either to the schools and other public buildings, or
to the open grounds where huge camps are set up by the committee where most of
the people are being fed, if not left hungry.
Tens of people, from the villages that laid their lives for land in 2007, the
very year of remembering of Gandhiji's Satyagraha, the Martyrdom of Bhagat
Singh and 150 years of the Sepoy Mutiny, saw their victory in the cancellation
of the Chemical hub to be brought on the lush green land in Nandigram, East
Midnapore. But that was not all. They are facing worse of the battles, a war.
Beyond throwing small bombs, firing across the Khaals (naalas) and rivulets,
demolishing 60 houses in Satangabari (May 2007) and such other attacks
threatening and targeting villagers; boycott of labourers and hawkers going to
work and customers going to nearby market is also a serious concern. Resistance
to this also became violent, as people and some of the supporting social and
political activists claimed that they could not survive without it.
A new phase began, with steady increase in the large number of persons, known
to be Harmad Vahini, CPI (M) cadres, and an open attack on the houses and
villages and also persons, started in October. Persons of both sides seem to
have been killed but no one is sure of the final tally. The information from
the area was in parts and parcels and delayed but now it's clear that CPI(M)
cadres from outside the area, as they are identified with goons, have been
marching, beating, hitting ……. forcibly occupying territory. News conveyed
and flashed clearly indicate that Satangabari, Samsabad, Sonachura and few
other villages are partially or fully vacated, occupied and houses looted and
damaged, even burnt. Beyond this, the total picture of the fight going on among
the unequal forces is not coming out but it's certain that unlike what is
presented from the ruling quarters in West Bengal, there is no infiltration of
Maoists that has caused all this. There may be a handful of activists belonging
to various ideologies â€" Gandhian to Maoism â€" reaching Nandigram, but we
have not doubt that the battle was started, led and is carried forward by the
local residents, women, men youth and children included.
We know that hundreds and hundreds of families have been left without
livelihoods who are only crying halt to snatch away their land, asserting their
rights but also appealing for peace. They, in thousands, are innocent, they are
challenged but they are committed even to lay their lives but not bent or
submit. They are beyond party lines, accepting the leadership of Bhumi Ucched
Protirodh Committee with representatives of villages' communities, peoples'
organisations such as Gana-unnayan and Jana-adhikar Raksha Samiti and also
local residents representing SUCI, TMC, PDCI and Congress as parties and
Jamait-e-Ulema-i-Hind. This must be understood by all.
What is going on in Nandigram is undemocratic, criminal and also inhuman.
People on both sides are losing lives while property and livelihood in the area
is irreversibly damaged. This is unacceptable.
The West Bengal Government has been repeatedly appealed by various
organisations, to control the situation by compelling the CPI (M) cadres to
withdraw the siege and stop forcible entry and occupation, but to no avail. THE
POLICE, INCLUDING SENIOR OFFICIALS, SEEM TO BE INACTIVE AND APATHETIC AS PER
ORDERS AND UNDER THE POLITICAL CONTROL OF LAKSHMAN SETH, MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT
AND CHAIRMAN OF HALDIA DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.
It is all these which necessitates an urgent intervention by not only the
Central Government, the Home Ministry but also the Constitutional authorities
and the National Human Rights Commission, to say the least.
IT WAS EXACTLY TO HIDE THIS AND PREVENT AN EXPOSURE THAT THE WEST BENGAL
GOVERNMENT IS NOT PERMITTING THE MEDIA PERSONS, except those who could somehow
manage.
We, representatives of Peoples' Movements, Paschim Banga Khet Mazdoor Samiti
and New Trade Union initiatives, NAPM, APDR, Forum of Artistes and
Intellectuals, Teachers and Scientists' forums, representatives from SUCI
including Tarun Sanyal, Sunondo Sanyal, Tarun Naskar, Sujata Bhadra, Meher
Engineer, Amit Bhattacharya, Debaprosad Sarkar(MLA), Anuradha Talwar ,Swapan
Ganguly and Medha Patkar, decided to visit Nandigram on being invited through
repeated calls and messages from the people facing the onslaught.
Yesterday, November 8th 2007, we proceeded towards Nandigram accompanied by
tens of policemen and officials, who warned us of security problems but also
assured us of being there to protect. On their conveying to us a possibility of
having a dialogue with the Chief Minister or Chief Secretary in the Government,
we agreed to hold the dialogue after visiting the area and assessing the
situation there. We took the Haldia route instead of the route we took earlier,
where CPI (M) cadres had stopped us.
We reached Kapasberia More at about 12:30 p.m. A gathering of 30-40 CPI (M)
cadres with Red flags stopped our convoy and started shouting abusive slogans
against us. Interestingly the police pilot car leading the convoy stepped aside
and made way for the goons so that they can have a free hand on us. A few
cadres specifically targeted Medha Patkar, Tarun Sanyal, Debjit, Deboprosad
Sarkar and Meher Engineer as well as a few media persons in other vehicles.
They started attacking Medha Patkar with fists, violently pulling her out of
the car by holding her hair and Sari. They broke the specks of Debjit and
partly tore the clothes of Sunondo Sanyal. They also broke the camera of a
media person.
All the while, the cadres were encircling all the cars (except the police ones)
and breaking the glass panes, shouted abusive and filthy languages to all of
us. Even at this point, police chose to be silent spectators who are watching
some fun for free. Five vehicles were able to turn back and move a few yards.
One sumo car (WB 02H â€" 4402), carrying Meher Engineer, Amit Bhattacharya and
Hindustan Times reporter Alok Banerjee, was severely damaged and the passengers
including Alok Banerjee were badly beaten in this unprecedented act of violence
by CPI(M) terrorists. The driver somehow managed to move forward towards
Kapasberia School where the local residents gave the passengers first aid.
Medha Patkar and others began to stage Dharna on the Kapasberia bridge and had
a protest sit-in for 3 hours and more. We handed over a letter addressed to the
Superintendent of Police and asked to make way for our visit to Nandigram and
to book the attackers under law.
Local residents came out in large numbers and showed their support and
solidarity towards us and to the struggle of common people of Nandigram and
condemned the CPI (M) attack on us. They also condemned the deliberate and
directed police inaction. Subsequently we lodged two complaints with the local
Mahishadal Police Station, one relating to breaking down of the above mentioned
Sumo car, and the other regarding the physical attack on Medha Patkar,
Deboprosad Sarkar (MLA) and others by CPI (M) cadres. We returned to Mecheda
for further action where Medha Patkar and Tarun Sanyal addressed the local
residents.
• We condemn such undemocratic and criminal tendencies by the ruling
party and demand as free and concerned citizens of India as well as
representatives of peoples' movements that we should be allowed to visit
Nandigram where more than a lakh people have become homeless and need our
immediate support and relief.
• We are shocked by the apathy, inaction and both direct and indirect
support of the police to the CPI (M) hooligans, indicating a break-down of
State Machinery resulting in non-availability of any channel for security and
redressal of grievances of common people.
• We urge an urgent intervention by the Governor of West Bengal as well
as the Union Government of India to open up Nandigram by ensuring withdrawal of
siege and stopping outsider-attackers from entering Nandigram.
• We demand that peaceful defenders of Human Rights' belonging to known
Peoples' organisations should be allowed and protected and their entry to
Nandigram area should be facilitated.
• We hope that all concerned and progressive citizens, civil
organisations as well as political parties will protest against the onslaught
on Nandigram, forcible occupation of their territory and violation of basic
human rights and civil liberties, compelling the Constitutional authorities and
government to intervene in this battle between the State and people for
freedom, democracy, right to life and livelihood.
Latest News:
1. Three People including Sadikulla from Jamat-e-Ulema-Hind, Schoota Das and
Samar Das, have been arrested while going towards Nandigram today.
2. Activists and intellectuals including Medha Patkar met the governor today
and submitted the memorandum to ensure the freedom of the people of Nandigram
and also the protection of their Constitutional rights.
3. People across India have written to the WB government condemning the attack
and the situation in Nandigram.
4. DHARNA (SIT IN) HAS BEGUN IN KOLKATA TODAY, IN WHICH PEOPLE FROM VARIOUS
ORGANISATIONS AND ACTIVISTS INCLUDING MEDHA PATKAR ARE PARTICIPATING. A TWO DAY
PROTEST FAST WILL COMMENCE TOMORROW.
Press Conference
THERE WILL BE A PRESS CONFERENCE AT 3.00 P.M. TODAY, DEMANDING THE IMMEDIATE
RELEASE OF ARRESTED ACTIVISTS AND BRINGING NORMALCY IN NANDIGRAM.
Sukhendu Bhattachrya - Sanhati Udyog/NAPM
Anuradha Talwar - Paschim Banga Khet Mazdoor Samiti/NTUI
Sujata Bhadra- APDR
Tarun Naskar/ Dilip Chakraborty- Forum of Artists and intellectuals
Meher Engineer- Teachers’ and Scientists’ Forum
Shyam Bihari Singh- Janata Dal (Secular)
Kartik Pal- CPI (ML) Liberation
Shaktiman Ghosh- National Hawkers’ Federation
Amit BhattaCharya- Prof. Jadhavpur University
Gautam Sen- Intellectual
Medha Patkar- National Alliance of People's Movements
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