Firing and bombing at Bhangaberia

Violence erupts once again on Friday as bombs were hurled and guns fired at Bhangaberia area of Nandigram, the scene of the March 14 violence but there are no reports of any casualty.

East Midnapore district police superintendent G Srinivas said the firing and hurling of bombs lasted for about an hour and stopped at around 12 noon.

However, he did not say whether it was the CPI-M or the anti-displacement Bhumi Uched Pratirodh Committee (BUPC), which was involved in the violence.

"I am trying to send police reinforcements in the area," Srinivas said.

BUPC leader Milon Pradhan claims that the firing and the bomb-throwing was done by the CPI-M cadre following the visit of Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee on April 25 in Nandigram, who is stiffly opposing acquisition of farmland for industries in the state.

"The CPI-M cadres are forcibly trying to enter Sonachura (a BUPC-dominated area) through Bhangaberia to perpetuate violence," he claimed.

CPI-M leaders could not be contacted.

Fourteen people were killed at Nandigram in police firing on March 14.