CPI(M) recaptures area in Nandigram before panchayat poll

Nandigram (WB), May 5: In a re-enactment of recapture of Nandigram in November last year, armed CPI(M) cadres today took control of a stronghold of an opposition Trinamool Congress-backed outfit, spearheading an agitation against acquisition of farmland, ahead of next Sunday's panchayat poll.East Midnapore district superintendent of police S Panda said Roynagar, Jambari and Simalkunda areas in Satengabari village witnessed violence with guns and bombs being used.He, however, declined to identify the attackers.The TC-supported Bhumi Uchched Pratirodh Committee members said armed CPI(M) cadres on motorcycles hurled bombs and opened fire at Satengabari before capturing it, forcing 3,000 BUPC supporters to flee their homes.After the recapture, the CPI(M) cadres attacked a relief camp where 300 BUPC members were sheltered at Maheshpur, they said.Five BUPC supporters were missing after the attack, they alleged.CPI(M) district secretariat member Ashok Guria admitted his partymen had carried out an operation but claimed it was to rescue three CPI(M) men.He claimed a CPI(M) cadre was shot by BUPC activists and four others were injured. ''They (BUPC) opened fire and our men retaliated.''

400 displaced after CPM-Trinamool clash in Nandigram

Nandigram: A fresh clash between supporters of the State's ruling CPM and those of the Opposition Trinamool Congress erupted in Nandigram on Sunday even as 400 villagers were sheltered in relief camps following mounting violence in the run up to coming panchayat elections.

Police said two groups of the rival political parties clashed with bombs at Sonachura on Sunday morning. No one was, however, injured.

Official sources said the displaced villagers had been sheltered in two relief camps near the BDO office in Nandigram and adjacent Maheshpur for the past few days. They have come from Sonachura and Garchakrabaria villages.

Mamata convoy attacked in Nandigram

NANDIGRAM: A day after CPM workers allegedly gangraped a woman in Nandigram, tension gripped the area again on Sunday.

The convoys of Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee and Contai MLA Shubhendu Adhikary were allegedly attacked by CPM supporters while the police stood silent.
The two were on their way to Garupara in Gokulnagar, which has witnessed violent clashes since Friday night.

Accusing cops of acting against Opposition members, Trinamool’s Egra MLA Shishir Adhikary lodged a complaint against Nandigram police station officer-in-charge Debashish Chakraborty.
Mamata’s convoy came to a halt when CPM supporters — allegedly carrying firearms — attacked it near Gokulnagar around 4 pm. She alleged that the men misbehaved with her when she came out of her car to remove those blocking the convoy’s way.

Trinamool leaders alleged that additional SP (Haldia) Prasun Banerjee and additional SP (headquarters) S M H Mirza were present, but did not act.

Shubhendu was heading for Garupara via another route around the same time, when an equally strong group of CPM supporters stopped his vehicle at Pramanikpara. He alleged that the Nandigram OC, who was present at the spot, did nothing to stop the rampaging mob. “Instead, he was asking CPM supporters not to let me go,” Shubhendu added.