Police to act cautiously in Nandigram

The police has been instructed to act with caution in Nandigram, East Midnapore district, following the violence which claimed one life on Sunday over the land acquisition issue.

Asked whether the police will enter the villages to control the situation, West Bengal Home Secretary P R Roy on Monday said, "If the police enter the villages, there is likely to be strong resistance. The police have been told to act with much restraint. We do not want a repeat of the March 14 incident."

"I am told that one person was killed, one was missing and 10 persons were injured in yesterday's violence," he said.

He said the fresh violence has caused the situation to deteriorate in Nandigram. "Due to timely intervention by the police, the situation was controlled. Otherwise, it could have been much more serious," Roy added.

The state government, he said, has informed the Centre of the situation prevailing in Nandigram.

The state administration, he said, was also trying to convene another all-party meeting to restore peace.

The home secretary was briefing reporters after a high-level meeting convened by Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya to review the situation.

Chief Secretary Amit Kiran Deb and Director General of Police A B Bhora were also present.

Tension prevailed in Nandigram following the clashes between Communist Party of India-Marxist and supporters of the Bhumi Uchched Pratirodh Committee, spearheading the anti-land acquisition agitation, official sources said.