Peace remains elusive in Nandigram

Nandigram, (PTI): The Bhangabera bridge on the border between Nandigram and Khejuri is where the first spark of violence erupted early January, leading to the divide between the Bhumi Uchhed Pratirodh Committee and the CPI(M).

The signs of the division over land acquisition for a proposed SEZ are still evident. Torched and damaged houses are visible, people who have chosen to stay on despite the mayhem are few as the red hammer and sickle flags of the Marxists are fluttering once again after the recapture of Nandigram.

The measured tread of boots as the CRPF personnel patrol is reassuring, and the only sign of the fragile peace since mid-November there.

On January 6, three people of BUPC, S K Selim, Bharat Mondal and a student of class VIII, Biswajit Maity, were killed allegedly in firing from the house of a CPI(M) leader, Sankar Samanta. The rest is history now.

Nearly 15,000 residents from nearby villages like Sonachura and Garchakraberia burnt Samata's house and he perished in the blaze. Others in his panic-stricken family swam across the canal and reached Khejuri-I, a CPI(M) stronghold. Shortly to follow them were another 400 families of Bhangabera.

"We could not even take clothes when I and my wife fled our home. When we reached the other side of the canal, our party supporters gave us shelter. If we had not found shelter, we would have been dead now," recounts Sankar's brother Bhabani.

Eleven months later on November 10, the CPI(M) hit back by "recapturing" Bhangabera, Sonachura and nearby areas.

Soon after, another displacement took place. As the CPI(M) supporters returned home, those belonging to the BUPC fled the area with an uncertain future staring them in the face.

"I don't know what the BUPC members got by driving us away. I knew all of them and when we came back, we didn't take revenge. We told all of them that we could stay together peacefully. When the government has withdrawn the proposal for land acquisition, then what are we fighting for?" asked Samanta.

"A mass movement has turned into a political conflict. The Trinamool Congress is responsible for it and did it for political gain. Those who left should return and start leading a normal life," he said.

CPI(M) supporters alleged that during the past 11 months, BUPC supporters with the help of Maoists constantly harassed them. "I stayed risking my life. They would have burnt down my house, but spared it after taking money and my crops. Now perhaps I can live in peace," said Tarit Samanta, a resident of Bhangabera.

"When bullets flew in the last 11 months, we left and took refuse three-four kilometers away until the guns fell silent. We would then return home fearfully at night. We have been terrorised since January," he said.

CPI(M) leader of Khejuri, Himanshu Das said around 1000 people had to flee and lost everything. They had to stay in relief camps. "So, are they to be faulted that they have returned home after all these months?", he asked.

He reiterated that BUPC supporters had nothing to fear. "After all, we were neighbours and we will live again together."

But neither the BUPC nor the CPI(M) know when the mutual distrust will die down. Till then peace will remain elusive.

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