bloody hands again

Statesman News Service, 11 November

NANDIGRAM/KOLKATA, Nov. 10: A day after the Governor’s call for an end to violence, killings continued unabated in Nandigram today as armed suspected CPI-M cadres fired bullets indiscriminately at a peace rally organised by Bhumi Ucched Protirodh Committee (BUPC) at Maheshpur in Nandigram today. In the surcharged atmosphere in the area and lack of access thanks to road blocks put up by CPI-M supporters, it was impossible to confirm the death toll. While unconfirmed reports put the toll as high as 35 with bodies being fished out of a canal, police would confirm only two persons, including a woman, having lost their lives and at least 13 others having been injured.

Eyewitnesses said thousands of BUPC supporters, who were driven out of their homes in the past 72 hours by armed CPI-M cadres, brought out a rally from Sonachura around 10 a.m. this morning demanding restoration of peace in the trouble-torn villages. Residents of Maheshpur, Tarulbari, Baranagar, Gokulnagar, Adhikaripara, Tekhali Bazaar, Brindabanchowk and several other villages took part in the march.

When the rally reached Maheshpur, armed CPI-M cadres allegedly fired indiscriminately at unarmed BUPC supporters killing Sheikh Rezaul (35), a resident of Bojabari village and Shyamali Manna (40), a housewife from Gokulnagar, on the spot and injuring 13 others. Policemen present at the spot reportedly remained silent spectators, allowing the CPI-M activists to complete the operation smoothly in half-an-hour. BUPC leader Sheikh Sufiyan claimed that at least 35 persons had been killed in the firing. “We have seen 14 bodies being taken to the CPI-M’s Sherkhanchowk office in rickshaw vans by CPI-M cadres. The remaining bodies were later dumped elsewhere.” He further alleged that as many as 30 BUPC supporters, who had received bullet injuries, had been abducted by CPI-M goons.

The CPI-M men allegedly fired at ambulances ferrying injured persons to Tamluk district hospital and a hospital in Nandigram. “We were able to rescue 13 people and rushed them to Nandigram hospital. Five of them ~ Mr Ashis Pandit, Mr Goutam Das, Mr Jadav Maiti and Mr Tapas Khatua ~ were shifted to Tamluk district hospital in a critical condition,” Sheikh Sufiyan said.

BUPC leaders alleged that nearly 200 persons have gone missing following the firing. Those who failed to escape were to a house near Maheshpur and Khejuri college and beaten up by CPI-M men. CPI-M men also attacked BUPC supporters who took out another procession from Bhangabera this afternoon. CPI-M-hired goons fired at unarmed people from Tekhali Bridge. The attackers ransacked shops owned by BUPC supporters at Sashigunge Bazar. Here too, policemen on duty remained mute spectators. Later in the day, BUPC supporters gheraoed Nandigram police station alleging inaction. Policemen allegedly resorted to lathicharge in which few persons, including women were injured. BUPC leaders alleged that more than 80 armed CPI-M cadres were hiding in Maheshpur Bazar, Amgachia primary school and Galnagar primary school.

Mr Raj Kanojia, inspector general of police (law and order), said two persons, including a woman, were killed and 17 others injured in today’s firing. Asked to comment on alleged police inaction, Mr Kanojia said policemen had been gheraoed at Nandigram police station, which had kept them from reaching the spot.

Chhota Angaria accused held

MIDNAPORE, Nov. 10: Two prime accused in the 2001 Chhota Angaria mass killings wanted by the CBI ~ Tapan Ghosh and Sukur Ali ~ were among eight persons arrested in Egra today while fleeing in an ambulance and three other vehicles with three BUPC members injured in Nandigram whom they had abducted, alleged Trinamul MLA for Egra Mr Sisir Adhikary. He said one of the cars belonged to the Khejuri panchayat committee (WB29 3500) and bore a state government sticker. Ghosh, a CPI-M Midnapore (W) district committee member, and Sukur Ali were intercepted by locals this evening. Mr Adhikary said one of the injured persons was a 65-year-old woman whose cries were heard by residents when the ambulance carrying her was passing by. The IG (law & order) confirmed the arrest of eight persons in Egra but declined to give details. A CBI team has left for Egra to arrest the duo. SNS

Kshiti wants to quit Cabinet

KOLKATA, Nov. 10: The Left Front is showing cracks following the “recapturing process” in Nandigram with RSP leader and PWD minister Mr Kshiti Goswami deciding not to continue in Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee’s Cabinet and seeking his party’s permission to resign. Some of his party leaders joined Ms Medha Patkar at her protest rally in a show of solidarity today. His party also lent its support to the Governor’s yesterday’s statement, something other LF allies such as Forward Bloc and CPI did not.

“I do not want to continue as a minister in this Cabinet. I have let my party’s general secretary know,” Mr Goswami said. “I protested against the violence which has been continuing for the past 10 months. The government had enough time to act, but it did not,” the minister said. RSP leader Mr Manoj Bhattacharya hinted at Ms Patkar’s protest rally that his party would soon take a “strong decision” on withdrawing from the Left Front.

Veteran Forward Bloc leader Mr Ashok Ghosh agreed with the Governor’s statement in spirit but felt it was “unfortunate and uncalled
for”. SNS