After Nandigram and Singur, it's Burnpur
Monday, June 18, 2007
BURNPUR: A new front has opened up over acquisition of land for industry in West Bengal. After Singur and Nandigram, the new flashpoint is Iisco's proposed greenfield steel plant at Burdwan district's Burnpur, home to one of the country's oldest steel plants.
Villagers whose land was acquired 18 years ago clashed with the police on Sunday at Purushottampur, the site of the new steel plant, which will add to the existing capacity and create hundreds of jobs in the area, over better compensation and jobs. The clash left an executive magistrate, 10 villagers and six cops injured. Over 90 people were arrested from the site where 305 acre have been acquired.
Meanwhile, Nandigram continued to simmer for the third consecutive day. Bullets flew from the Khejuri end, considered a CPM stronghold, yet again on Sunday. This time the target was a group of reporters instead of the police.
A group of CPM workers allegedly opened fire at the reporters when they tried to enter the Janani brick kiln in Khejuri's Sherkhanchak. This was the same place from where 10 CPM workers were arrested with arms a few days after the March 14 Nandigram
Times of India
posted by Resistance 6/18/2007 09:01:00 AM,
