Govt plays safe in Nandigram

Govt plays safe in Nandigram

http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=1&id=155015&usrsess=1

Statesman News Service
NANDIGRAM/KOLKATA, April 30: Tension prevailed in Satangabari and Brindabanchak areas of Nandigram-II block today after a pitched gun battle between CPI-M cadres and Bhumi Uchched Pratirodh Committee supporters yesterday.
In the early hours today, CPI-M cadres threw bombs and fired bullets from the Khejuri side at Satangabari but violence stopped at about 7 am. Both sides kept a watch on each other’s movement across Talpati canal, separating Khejuri and Nandigram blocks.
Police fired in the air and asked a CPI-M rally to disperse.
The rally immediately retreated towards Khejuri. The government has decided not to send police to the trouble-torn areas of Nandigram this time.
Writ petition
Yesterday’s Nandigram incident was mentioned before a Division Bench of Mr Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose and Mr Justice Biswanath Somadder of Calcutta High Court today.
The writ petitioner complained that police had failed to restore law and order. The government should restore normalcy there, he added.
Mr Ashim Chatterjee, who appeared for the state, submitted that the government had taken steps but it had moved cautiously. The Division Bench directed the state to ensure protection of the residents of Nandigram and to protect their life and liberty as enshrined under Article 21 of the Constitution. Asked to comment on the High Court order, the chief minister said: “How can we do so?” The home secretary said that he was yet to get a copy of the order.

Editorial: Deserted & lumpenised, page 6