Communist Party of India had a strong presence in the area. It not only holds Nandigram constituency but also neighbouring Patashpur, Panskura (West) and Tamluk
The controversy over Nandigram issue was raised by the opposition parties MAHAJOT (Great alliance). People of Nandigram joined hands against forceful land acquisition. TMC, Congress, Jamiyate Ulema e hind joined hand to establish Bhumi Uchched Protirodh Committee, BUPC (Committee against land acquisition). The aim of BUPC is to save their livelihood & shelter from the hands of land encroachers.
On 14th March 2007, policemen and Communist party hoodlums [2] in disguise of khaki clad cops in slippers tried to enter Nandigram with massive arms and ammunitions. The people of Nandigram from all walks of life under the umbrella of Bhumi Uchched Protirodh Committee tried to protect their homes from the incursion. The Communist Party employed police and their accompanying hoodlums used their firepower at the people of Nandigram, killing at least 14 people and injuring several others.[3] They also raped several women. At least 2 people were reported missing since then. Many corpses were smuggled outside the area by CPI(M) cadres. Nearly all the victims of police firing had bullets lodged in their upper torsos, thus proving that the police violated standard operating procedure and aimed at their targets’ heads and chests. Some victims had bullet entry wounds on their backs, thus proving that they were shot while they were fleeing the cops. Even Jyoti Basu, former Chief Minister of West Bengal, pointed out these facts at a Left Front meeting as also before the press following a meeting with Mamata Banerjee. The Asian Human Rights Commission had condemned the killings. The violent incident has led to considerable criticism of Communists in India and abroad.[4]
CBI was called for investigating the incidence by Kolkata High Court. 10 CPIM hoodlums were caught red handed with arms used in the massacre by the investigating CBI officers from a brick factory close to Nandigram border.
TMC MLA Subhendu Adhikari, TMC leader Abu Taher, Abu Sufian, and in Kolkata, TMC MP Miss Mamata Banerjee and others are leading the movement from the front against this forceful farmland acquisition.
The events in Nandigram, starting from the January 3 incident have been the subject of a heated controversy. The Communist Party of India-Marxist [CPI(M)] is accused on the grounds that it is taking an anti-peasant stance in favour of big companies. It is accused of using the police for this purpose. CPI(M) is also using gun-men in this purpose.
The March 14 incident, when the police and armed CPI(M) cadres entered Nandigram and firing took place, have led to protests in West Bengal and in other parts of the country. At the national level, the Bharatiya Janata Party and its allies have focussed on this incident. Parliament was disrupted for five successive days. The BJP and the Trinamul Congress have demanded the imposition of Article 356 in West Bengal. Some other opposition groups have demanded the removal of Chief Minister Buddhabeb Bhattacharya.
The Nandigram events came in the background of the opposition launched against the Singur automobile project. The Central Committee of the CPI-M had met in Kolkata between January 2 and 4. It discussed the Singur project and endorsed the stand of the West Bengal CPI-M and the Left Front government in going ahead with the Tata car project in spite of the protests from the local farmers of Singur. The West Bengal CPI-M leadership had also informed that no land acquisition would be taken up in Nandigram if the people are opposed to it.
But the CPI(M) leaders proved that they are no better than Hitler in terms of dictatorship. The ruling party of West Bengal ordered the police, along with CPI(M)cadres armed with bombs and pipe guns, to enter Nandigram and teach the protesting farmers a lesson. Bullets were fired and bombs were hurled at the innocent, unarmed villagers including children and women. Many dead bodies were smuggled outside to destroy evidence of mass killing.
The Left Front Government wanted to buy time and slowly hush up the matter. So the Chief Minister and the CPI(M) wanted a Judicial probe. But the Kolkata High Court ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry on the March 14 incident.
The incident of March 14 incurred the disapproval of the people in West Bengal.The reactions against the brutality of the armed CPI(M) cadres in the rest of the country also reflect the same disapproval. Such reactions proved that the general public of India have the courage to protest against political terrorism. NGOs came forward to help the victims of the March 14 incident. Famous personalities from various quarters also came forward to protest the mis-deeds of CPI(M). Protest rallies led by NGO-worker Medha Patekar received immense public support.
But the March 14 incident was neither the first nor the last of such bloodbaths organised by the CPI(M).
On November 10, 2007 thousands of CPI(M) cadres entered Nandigram and fired mercilessly on two unarmed procession of the villagers led by Bhoomi Uchched Protirodh Committee leaders. The police remained silent spectators. The Print and Electronic Media were not allowed to enter the area from the previous week.
Two most notorious murderers, Sukur Ali and Tapan Ghose, who are CPI(M) leaders, here led the gang of goons to feast on the blood of the Nandigram villagers. Those two are accused in a most brutal murder case in Chhoto Angaria, where CPI(M) cadres killed their political opponents. Police arrested them when they tried to flee the area after kidnapping three injured villagers.
According to government sources, only 2 persons were killed in the incident of November 10. But the actual count of dead and injured people is difficult to obtain because many dead bodies were smuggled to other areas by CPI(M) members in a reckless attempt to erase the evidence of mass killing.
The Governor of West Bengal, Shri. Gopal Krishna Gandhi, had expressed his deep concern over the "Lawless situation" in Nandigram only a day before. The CPI(M) leaders Shri Biman Bose, Shri Jyoti Bose and others opposed the Governor's move towards establishing a peaceful environment. They started to malign the Governor to create political pressure.
A few days earlier, CPI(M) leader Mrs. Brinda karat had publicly threatened the opposition by saying that CPI(M) would administer "Dumdum daoyaii" (which means - brutal mass-killing) to those people who oppose the decisions of the CPI(M) about land acquisition.
All these threats turned into action on November 10, as CPI(M) organised a mass killing again in Nandigram. Once again the public roared against such brutality of the ruling party. Shri Kshiti Goswami, a prominent RSP leader and a minister of the Left Front government, protested against this incident and threatened to resign. Ms. Mamata Banerjee, the chief TMC leader, resigned from her post of Member of Parliament (MP).
The issue of land acquisition and industrialisation in West Bengal is being viewed by different quarters according to their own political and ideological predilections. While the TMC-led opposition parties demand that the Government should establish a peaceful environment for industrialisation, the ruling party CPI(M) does not seem to be interested in the idea of peaceful co-existence of agriculture and industries.