Police fire in the air, burst tear gas shells at Nandigram
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Kolkata, March 14 (PTI): Police today fired several rounds in the air and burst teargas shells at Nandigram in West Bengal's East Midnapore district when they were allegedly attacked by activists protesting against land acquisition for the proposed SEZ there.
Police sources here said that while trying to enter Nandigram through Bhangaberia, policemen were attacked in the Gokulnagar area by Bhumi Ucched Pratirodh Committee activists with bombs and bullets.
IGP (Law and Order) Raj Kanojia said that after being attacked, police burst tear gas shells and fired several rounds in the air in a bid to disperse the attackers.
He could not confirm any death or injury, but unconfirmed reports said four people were killed in the firing.
The police had not entered the villages at Nandigram since the violence on January 7 which left six dead. A district intelligence officer was lynched by a mob exactly a month later.
Members of the Bhumi Ucched Pratirodh Committee, led by the Trinamool Congress, had dug up roads in six or seven villages, which are their stronghold, to prevent the police from entering the villages.
Nandigram had been witnessing clashes over rumours of land acquisition for a SEZ by Indonesia's Salim group. The Hindu
posted by Resistance 3/14/2007 02:36:00 PM,
