The Hindu : Front Page : Nandigram: PM expresses concern

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Nov 06, 2007
ePaper

Front Page

Front Page

Nandigram: PM expresses concern

Special Correspondent

KOLKATA: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has expressed concern over the recent violence in Nandigram and asked Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil to look into the developments there.

In response to a letter sent to him on October 28 by Saifuddin Choudhury, president of the Party for Democratic Socialism — a constituent of the Trinamool Congress-led Krishi Jami, Jiban, Jibika Raksha (Protection of Land, Lives and Livelihood) Committee — drawing his attention to the violence, Dr. Singh has written: “I am concerned about the developments there and have spoken to the Union Home Minister to look into these urgently.”

There was another reshuffle in the police administration overseeing the troubled Nandigram area of West Bengal’s Purbo Medinipur district on Monday with the transfer of the State’s Inspector-General of Police (Western Range).

Last week the Superintendent of Police of the district was transferred. Though the transfers have officially been described as routine, the changes come days ahead of the deployment of the Central Reserve Police Force in the area. A battalion of the force is likely to arrive this week.

It will be under the supervision of the State Government but will function independently, Home Secretary Prasad Ranjan Ray said.

Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee spoke to Mr. Patil last week and sought deployment of central security forces in the wake of the recent spurt in violence.

There were reports of fresh disturbances in Reyapara area where an attempt was made to attack the local office of the CPI(M) allegedly by activists of the Trinamool Congress-backed Bhumi Ucched Pratirodh (Resistance against Land Eviction) Committee. The State government has received reports of the growing presence of armed Maoist extremists in the area.

Mamata warns of fresh agitation

Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, has warned of a fresh stir if the CRPF to be deployed at Nandigram is under the supervision of the State government and also demanded that the area be declared ‘disturbed’ where Central forces will be under the supervision of the Centre.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page