New Delhi: Hundreds of people clashed with the police in West Bengal’s East Midnapore district on Wednesday after hearing that officials had arrived in a village to acquire land for a special economic zone (SEZ).
The Trinamool Congress, which is against farmland being acquired for industries, alleged police fired in the air during the clash at Garchakraberia in Nandigram Block-I where the state government plans to set up a SEZ with Indonesia's Salim group.
District Magistrate Anup Agarwal told PTI shots were fired in the air, but he could not say whether it was the police.
IGP (law and order) Raj Kanojia too said in Kolkata that police had not fired.
Leader of Opposition and Trinamool Congress leader Partha Chatterjee alleged police fired in the air and did a lathicharge in which five persons were injured.
Police alleged that their vehicle was set on fire and 15 of their personnel were injured.
Supporters of the Krishi Jami Bachao Committee (Save Farmland Committee), which is backed by the Trinamool Congress, placed trees and boulders on the Nandigram-Sonachura road to the village after the clash.
The state government claims farmland is being given to industries after the consent of farmers but Opposition parties claim plots are being forcibly acquired.
The Trinamool Congress is leading a protest in Singur, Hoogly district, against land being given for the Tata Motors’ small car project.
Comments
0 comment