12-hr shutdown in Nandigram to protest death

A 12-hour Nandigram shutdown called to protest the death of a villager in clashes with cadres of West Bengal's ruling CPI-M seriously affected life in the area.

A 12-hour Nandigram shutdown on Saturday called to protest the death of a villager in clashes with cadres of West Bengal's ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) seriously affected life in the area.

"The shutdown is peaceful. We have made adequate police arrangements to tackle any violent situation," East Midnapore superintendent of police G Srinivas told IANS.

Srinivas said police personnel have been deployed in the violence-hit areas in Nandigram in East Midnapore district, about 150 km from Kolkata.

The Bhumi Uchched Pratirodh Committee (BUPC) anti-land acquisition group, which comprises the Trinamool Congress and other political groups, called the shutdown to protest the death of a member, Mahadeb Mondal, in firing by CPI-M supporters on Friday.

According to police sources, Mondal was killed during a gun battle between CPI-M and BUPC activists near Ranichak in the troubled area.

At least 25 people were killed, hundreds injured and some women raped in Nandigram in protests since January against a proposed special economic zone (SEZ) and a chemical hub planned there in collaboration with Indonesia's Salim Group.

Though the West Bengal government scrapped the SEZ plan, the area continues to remain on the boil.