The violence, which erupted in January 2007 over fear of land acquisition for a chemical hub in this hitherto little known corner of West Bengal, continued till November that year. Residents turned the area into a no-man's with roads dug up and the police unable to enter with the issue rocking the Parliament.
Leader of Opposition in West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari on Saturday alleged that Lalit Jha, the alleged mastermind in the Parliament security breach case, was associated with the youth wing of the Trinamool Congress.
Election to the Nandigram segment, with nearly 2,87,416 electorate was necessitated following the resignation of Communist Party of India MLA Muhammad Ilyas after a sting operation allegedly exposed his involvement in a corruption case.
The report reveals that the inaction of the West Bengal state government, including tacit acceptance of the violent operations of the armed supporters of the CPI-M, resulted in serious human rights abuses, including unlawful killings, abductions, sexual assault of women and forced eviction and displacement of thousands of people in 2007.
Police said CPI-M supporters blocked roads with felled trees at Jadurbari Chowk and Bhutar More on Wednesday night apprehending trouble after the Trinamool Congress' resounding victory in the panchayat polls in Nandigram blocks I and II. District CPI-M leader Ashok Guria alleged that TC supporters beat up a CPI-M activist at Sonachura.
The state received robust investment announcements worth Rs 2,43,489 crore in calendar 2007. In calendar 2008, investments fell 63 per cent, to Rs 90,095 crore (Rs 900.95 billion). The general slowdown in economic growth, however, may also have played a part in Bengal's declining rank, given that many of its major investments were in such sectors as steel, real estate and power, all of which are current casualties of slowing demand.
Two CPI(M) supporters, severely beaten up by alleged Trinamool Congress men at Nandigram and elsewhere, died in hospital today prompting the Marxists to call a 12-hour bandh in the area tomorrow.
The judge refused to comment on it, stating that he would address all inquiries after submitting his resignation.
The Trinamool government, which cashed in on the Nandigram protests in West Bengal politics, has not yet given the Central Bureau of Investigation the sanction to prosecute five police officers involved in the 2007 police firing which killed 14 villagers.
The Supreme Court on Thursday restrained the Central Bureau of Investigation from initiating criminal proceedings in any court against West Bengal police officers for the March 14 police firing in Nandigram in which 14 persons were killed.
Former US attorney-general Ramsay Clark slammed the West Bengal government for 'perpetrating atrocities' on the people of Nandigram as part of a globalisation drive to set up industries there.
The two sides exchanged several rounds of fire since early on Tuesday at Gokulnagar, Ranichak, Bhangaberia and Satengabari areas with the violence still continuing
Seven persons were injured in a clash between Communist Party of India-Marxist and Trinamool Congress supporters at Simulkundu village in Nandigram on Saturday evening, the police said. Police rushed to the spot. Two persons, stated to be CPI-M supporters were arrested.
The Union Home Ministry on Monday sought a detailed report from West Bengal government on the first phase of panchayat polls, particularly the situation in Nandigram where CRPF and police reportedly clashed with CPI(M) cadres. "The Home Ministry has sought a detailed report from the state government," a Home Ministry spokesman said.
The Calcutta High Court on Friday directed the Central Bureau of Investigation to continue the inquiry into March 14 Nandigram police firing and violence and submit a report within a month.
The raids continued for nearly seven hours during which the ED sleuths seized a number of documents.
Violence returned to the volatile region of Nandigram as a woman was killed and two persons suffered injuries in a clash between two armed groups near Tekhali on Sunday. Both groups were armed with country-made guns and other weapons, the police said in Kolkata on Sunday. Police reinforcements have been sent to the area and the situation was now under control.
Five half-burnt bodies were found by police while digging at Khejuri near Nandigram on Wednesday.
Roadblocks have been put up at some places on the road from Nandigram to Hazra Kata and the police had to march in those stretches.
The Bhumi Uchhed Pratirodh Committee's core committee member Sabuj Pradhan told reporters the body was found while the group's members were digging up land under Bhangabera bridge.
The former deputy PM has requested that a Governor's report be asked for.
The 14 were in jail custody and their bail prayers were rejected twice earlier by additional chief judicial magistrate of Haldia.
The alleged mastermind of the Nandigram violence of 2007, Lakshman Seth, arrested from a Mumbai guest house last Saturday, was produced on Tuesday in a court at Haldia which remanded him to three days' CID custody.
Violence erupted again in Nandigram with villagers, protesting against land acquisition, fought pitched battles with police amidst reports that five persons were killed and scores others injured.
Locals -- more so in the area broadly called Nandigram lying across the minor Haldi River from Haldia -- fear a fresh round of land acquisition, as the state government pushes ahead with its petroleum, chemical and petrochemical investment region plans with Indian Oil Corporation and Calc Refinery Ltd as its anchor tenants. The PCPIR is one of the Left Front government's showcase projects in its efforts to accelerate growth in the state.
'One Sandeshkhali won't turn around women's perception of Mamata Banerjee in this state'
The Central Reserve Police Force on Monday moved into the interior villages of Garchakraberia and Tekhalibazar in troubled Nandigram shortly after their arrival following reports of fresh violence.
Bhattacharjee added that he regrets the March 14 police firing in Nandigram and said no government in a civilised country can send the police to kill people.
Eight supporters of the Communist Party of India-Marxist were arrested on Thursday from Tekhali Bazar in Nandigram as three companies of Central Reserve Police Force patrolled the area to maintain peace. A six-member team of the National Human Rights Commission is slated to visit the troubled area today to chalk out remedial measures. Meanwhile, district Congress secretary and BUPC member Milan Pradhan alleged that two supporters of the BUPC were beaten up by CPM supporters.
A Trinamool Congress legislator claimed the CRPF personnel exchanged gunfire with the CPI-M workers at Garchakraberia.
Gunfire, arson and looting allegedly by Communist Party of India-Marxist activists was reported from recaptured Bhumi Ucched Pratirod Committee strongholds of Garchakraberia, Sonachura and Gokulnagar in Nandigram, as the bandh called by the entire opposition paralysed normal life in West Bengal. Fresh violence broke out in Nandigram recently as the CPI-M and the Trinamool Congress cadre fight to gain control over the area.
Taking up a public interest litigation seeking CBI probe into the violence and death during CPI(M) recapture of Nandigram in November, the Calcutta High Court on Friday directed the West Bengal Government to file an affidavit giving its views on the issue within eight weeks.
The apex court dismissed the plea stating that the matter was being looked into by the National Human Rights Commission.
The state would have to provide free medical assistance to the residents of the affected area marred by sporadic violence.
Initiating a Short Duration Discussion on the proposal to set up a SEZ in Nandigram and consequent large-scale violence, senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj said since directives to the state under Article 355 would not work, 'President's Rule should be imposed.'
Seeking to expedite the process, the front had also empowered all partners to initiate peace parleys on their own and talk to the Opposition.
Earlier on July 29, a CPI-M activist was killed during the clashes between the activists of the Trinamool Congress-led Bhumi Ucched Pratirodh Committee and CPI (M) workers along the Nandigram-Khejuri border.
The second round of the crucial Front meeting also decided that the state government would be run strictly on the basis of policies decided at the LF meetings.
It directed the Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee government to file an affidavit detailing the circumstances under which the firing was ordered.
Trouble began in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha right from the word go as a determined Opposition demanded suspension of Question Hour and taking up of discussion on the issue.
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