The Hindu : National : CPI(M) questions CRPF’s role

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Thursday, Nov 29, 2007
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CPI(M) questions CRPF’s role

Special Correspondent

KOLKATA: Reservations about the role of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in some areas of Nandigram were conveyed to Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee by Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Shyamal Chakravarty here on Wednesday.

Mr. Chakravarty, along with two other members of the CPI(M) central committee — Mohd. Salim and Shyamali Gupta — visited Nandigram on Tuesday – the first visit of a team of senior leaders of the party to the area since violence broke out there eleven months ago.

The CRPF was deployed in the area from November 12 in the wake of a fresh bout of violence late last month.

Residents of certain villages in the Nandigram area had complained about Trinamool Congress’ activists colluding with the CRPF in carrying out fresh attacks on those who had returned home after spending months in relief camps in the face of the past hostilities.

Contrary to official norms, the CRPF was also functioning independently of the local administration even though they had been deployed to assist the latter in restoring normality, Mr. Chakravarty told The Hindu.

“It must be borne in mind that Article 355 has not been invoked in the State,” he added.

Despite such efforts at inciting violence by Opposition leaders, who included those belonging to the Trinamool Congress-backed Bhumi Ucched Pratirdodh (Resistance against Eviction from Land) Committee, efforts to restore peace and instil confidence among the local people were being made, Mr. Chakravarty said.

“Attempts to create an atmosphere of peace had made substantial headway.” People belonging to both the political groups have been returning home after nearly eleven months and the relief sanctioned by the State government were reaching them.

Rice, blankets and clothes that had been donated for the victims of the past violence by the CPI(M) were also being distributed to the needy irrespective of their political leanings, Mr. Chakravarty said.

A team of CBI officials that is investigating the events leading to the March 14 police firing and violence in which 14 persons were killed in the Nandigram area reached there on Wednesday.

The CBI had been directed by the Calcutta High Court recently to resume its inquiries into the incidents and submit a report within a month.

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