The Hindu : National : “Police were forced to resort to firing in Nandigram”

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Tuesday, Jul 03, 2007
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“Police were forced to resort to firing in Nandigram”

Special Correspondent

“Violent resistance by an unlawful assembly of people”
“Area had been rendered totally inaccessible”

KOLKATA: The State police were not prepared to use force but were compelled to do so to restore normality at Nandigram on March 14, the West Bengal government told a Division Bench of the Calcutta High Court here on Monday.

Fourteen persons were killed in the police firing and subsequent violence that day.

Advocate-General Balai Roy told the Bench comprising Chief Justice S.S. Nijjar and Justice P.C. Ghose that the violent resistance by an unlawful assembly of people at Nandigram left the police with no alternative to opening fire. The police had gone to the area two days earlier for repairing damaged roads and bridges.

An affidavit was earlier submitted to the High Court in response to a public interest litigation petition on the incident.

Mr. Roy said that between January 3 and March 14 an area of 65 sq km, inhabited by 60,000-70,000 people, had virtually been declared a liberated zone. The State could not perform any of its duties as required by the Constitution during this period.

The area had been rendered totally inaccessible with roads leading to it dug up and bridges and culverts damaged.

The civil administration could not function, policing was not possible and 41 cases recorded in several “thanas” could not be investigated.

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