Click to play videoNandigram: Narmada Bachao Andolan leader Medha Patkar was allegedly roughed up by CPM workers in Nandigram on Thursday when she tried to enter the village where people are opposing land acquisition for industries.
Nandigram residents allege hundreds of CPM workers armed with rifles, pistols and bombs have captured back village after village from the supporters of the Save Farmland Committee.
CPM workers have allegedly damaged many houses, killed four persons four and injured dozens in the area. At the makeshift relief camp in a Nandigram high school, at least 5,000 people have taken shelter.
An attack survivor says, “There's heavy gunfire and fighting. We simply can't stay inside our house.” Another one says, “They've destroyed our house and taken away our cattle.”
On Thursday, the CPM party men took a break. Many fear it's the lull before the next wave of attack.
However, the recession did not stop them from forcibly preventing the opposition leaders from entering Nandigram. Even activist, Medha Patkar was allegedly manhandled as she tried to enter the troubled village of Bengal.
She says, “In Nandigram, police men are a bigger threat to you. They keep standing and allowing whatever's going on. Just like the Gujarat issue in which things were done with Modi Ji’s permission.”
She accuses the CPM workers of not letting her enter Nandigram.
In this scenario, fear and panic continue to grip Nandigram which simmers with a strong undercurrent of violence. It is political protests like these which have the potential of turning violent at any instant.
The Left Front government's police force reportedly remained mute spectators during the attacks.
But the mounting pressure has now forced the government to do some damage control. A compensation package of rupees 2 lakh has been announced for the 14 people who died on the first day of violence in Nandigram in March this year.
The Chief Secretary, Amit Kiran Deb said, “We have decided to set up relief camps in the crucial areas of Nandigram and their primary objective will be to establish peace.”
However, delaying the decision on sending para-military forces in Nandigram might give more time to local CPM cadres to inflict more violence on Nandigram.
(With inputs from Sumon Chakrabarti)
(For updates you can share with your friends, follow IBNLive on Facebook, Twitter and Google+)
displayed with permission. Use of the CNN name and/or logo on or as part of CNN-IBN does not derogate from the intellectual property rights of Cable News Network in respect of them.