Police camps attacked in Nandigram

In fresh violence, a Trinamool Congress-backed committee activists opposed to acquisition of farmland for SEZ attacked two police camps on Friday as tension continued to prevail in Nandigram during the 12-hour general strike called by opposition parties in West Bengal.

East Midnapore District Magistrate Anup Agarwal told newpsersons in Tamluk that the camps at Adhikaripara and Sonachura were gheraoed and attacked by members of Bhumi Uchched Pratirodh Committee (Land Eviction Resistance Committee) around noon.

In reply to questions from mediapersons, Agarwal said the police did not fire in retaliation. He also had no report of any lathicarge or bursting of tear gas shells by the police.

Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) Raj Kanojia said in Kolkata that the bodies of two of the 14 killed in Wednesday's police firing were cremated during the day.

Asked about the other 12 bodies, he said, "Nobody has come forward to claim them."

Nandigram Communist Party of India legislator Iliyas Mohammed alleged 15 houses belonging to CPI-M supporters were set ablaze by Trinamool Congress activists at Adhikaripara and Garupara.

On the other hand, Bhumi Uchched Pratirodh Committee core committee member Abu Taher accused the CPI-M of having torched 10 houses of its members at Sonachura.